Test Overview
Culture
Isolate and identify Legionella
Negative
* Reference ranges may change over time. Please refer to the original patient report when evaluating results.
Recovery of legionella in specimens heavily contaminated with indigenous flora (i.e., sputum) may be difficult.
Test Details
7 - 10 days
- Legionnaires Disease
- Aerobic Bacterial Culture, Legionella
- Culture, Legionella
Specimen Requirements
Bronchial washings, bronchoalveolar lavage, bronchus fluid, chest fluid, chest tube drainage, empyema, endotracheal specimens, fresh lung tissue, induced sputum, lingula (lung), lung biopsy, pericardial fluid or tissue, pleura, pleural fluid, protected catheter brush, sputum, thoracentesis fluid, tracheal secretion, transbronchial biopsy, or transtracheal aspirate should be sent in a screw-capped, sterile container refrigerated. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.
Additional Information
If tissue is submitted, an additional charge will be assessed for processing (CPT 87176). Positives will be identified to species level at no additional charge (CPT 87140). Test sent to Mayo Medical Laboratories. NOTE: Legionella silver stain for tissue is performed by MLabs Surgical Pathology.