Test Overview
Culture
Isolate, quantitate and identify aerobic organisms. Test is used to evaluate the graft recipient site for infection before grafting or to monitor the progress of granulation for secondary closure of a wound.
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 < 0.05 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.
Quantitative results are reported within 48 hours. Identifications and antibiotic susceptibilities (if requested) may take longer. Negative cultures are reported after 48 hours.
- Tissue, Quantitation Culture, Aerobe only
- Aerobic Bacterial Culture, Tissue Quantitation
- Aerobic Culture, Tissue Quantitation
- Biopsy Quantitation, Aerobic Culture
- Biopsy, Quantitation Culture, Aerobe only
- Culture, Tissue Quantitation, Aerobe
- Quantitation Tissue Culture, Aerobic
- Surgical Specimen Quantitation, Aerobic Culture
- Quantitative Culture, Wound Biopsy
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. 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 cannot 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 systemic and topical susceptibility testing of potentially pathogenic organism(s) at an additional charge unless specifically declined. Quantitative culture results are reported within the range of 100-1,000,000,000 organisms per gram of tissue. Possible pathogens isolated at 10^5/gm or greater are considered significant for infection and will be sent to the Microbiology Laboratory for further identification and antibiotic susceptibilities.