Test Overview
Culture
Isolate, quantitate and identify aerobic organisms.
No growth
* Reference ranges may change over time. Please refer to the original patient report when evaluating results.
Quantitation of organisms isolated may not be accurate if < 0.005 gram of tissue is received. Quantitative culture detects aerobic organisms and yeast; other organisms may not be detected.
Test Details
Specimens received on weekends before noon on Sunday will be processed on Sunday.
Preliminary results are reported at 24 hours and quantitative results are reported within 48 hours. Identifications and antibiotic susceptibilities (if requested) may take longer. Negative cultures are reported after 48 hours.
- Culture, Deep Tissue or Bone Quantitation, Aerobe
- Biopsy, Quantitation Culture, Aerobe only
- Biopsy Quantitation, Aerobic Culture
- Aerobic Bacterial Culture, Deep Tissue or Bone Quantitation
- Aerobic Culture, Deep Tissue or Bone Quantitation
- Quantitation Deep Tissue or Bone Culture, Aerobic
- Surgical Specimen Quantitation, Aerobic Culture
- Tissue (Deep), Quantitation Culture, Aerobe only
- Bone, Quantitation Culture, Aerobe only
Specimen Requirements
Aseptically prepare biopsy site before taking biopsy. The portion of the surgical specimen submitted for this test should be separated from the portion submitted for other testing. For optimum recovery, send immediately. A small gauze moistened with sterile saline may be added to prevent desiccation. If specimen must be stored, refrigerate immediately after specimen collection. May be refrigerated up to 48 hours; do not freeze. Indicate specimen source, collection date/time, current antibiotic therapy, and clinical diagnosis. If an unacceptable specimen is received, the client will be notified and another specimen will be requested before disposal of the specimen.
Specimens that are too small to be weighed will be reported as “quantity not sufficient”.
Specimens not properly stored such as not refrigerated or older than 3 days will not be processed unless a new specimen can not be obtained and the physician requests processing.
Specimens received in containers that are grossly contaminated during collection or from having inadequately tightened lids may be rejected if the technologist is unable to access tissue safely.
Additional Information
Test includes quantitative culture, Gram stain, and identification of organisms. Test includes identification and susceptibility testing of potentially pathogenic organism(s) at an additional charge unless specifically declined. Quantitative culture results are reported within the range of 10-1,000,000,000 organisms per gram of tissue. Isolates from deep tissue or bone cultures will be sent to the Microbiology Laboratory for antibiotic susceptibilities. Topical sensitivities are not performed unless requested.