Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE), Culture

Test Code

VRECX

Alias/See Also

LAB238

CPT Codes
<p>87081</p>

Includes

If culture is positive, then identification will be performed at an additional charge (CPT code(s): 87077 or 87140 or 87147 or 87149).

Preferred Specimen

Specimen Type: Preserved Feces

Collection Container/Type

Preferred: Amies liquod transport swab

Acceptable: Amies gel transport swab, Amies liqui elution (e-Swab), or equivalent

Specimen Volume: 1 gram or 1 mL

Collection Instructions: Collect in clean, dry container and then transfer a minimum of 1 gram or 1 mL into an Amies liquid transport swab, Amies gel transport swab, Amies liquid elution swab (e-Swab) or equivalent.

Minimum Volume

1 gram or 1 mL

Instructions

Collect in clean, dry container and then transfer a minimum of 1 gram or 1 mL into an Amies liquid transport swab, Amies gel transport swab, Amies liquid elution swab (e-Swab) or equivalent.

Transport Temperature

Room temperature

Specimen Stability

Room temperature: 48 hours

Refrigerated: 48 hours

Frozen: Unacceptable

Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)

Stool specimens preserved in transport media not listed as acceptable • Unpreserved stool

Methodology

Bacteriologic Culture, Aerobic

Special isolation procedure on selective and differential chromogenic medium, containing 6 mcg/mL of vancomycin. Identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing are not included.

Setup Schedule

Set up: Daily; Report available: 1 day

Report Available

1 day

Reference Range

See Laboratory Report

Clinical Significance

The VRE culture screen permits rapid detection of those patients who are infected or colonized with VRE.

Performing Laboratory
Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute 14225 Newbrook Drive Chantilly, VA 20153

Last Updated: February 20, 2023

The CPT Codes provided in this document are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payor being billed. Any Profile/panel component may be ordered separately. Reflex tests are performed at an additional charge.