Culture, Mycobacterium

Message

Specimen should be collected prior to initiation of antimycobacterial chemotherapy. Avoid contamination with tap water or other fluids that may contain environmental mycobacteria, since superphysical mycobacteria may produce false-positive culture and/or smear results. Do not use any fixatives or preservatives.

Test Code

416

CPT Codes
87015-Concentration; 87116-Culture, Mycobacterium; 87206-Acid-fast smear

Includes

Includes an acid-fast smear.

Preferred Specimen

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Bronchial Washing
Container/Tube: Sterile container(s)
Collection Instructions: Label container with patient’s name (first and last) and date and actual time of collection.
Note: Specimen source is required.

Gastric Content
Container/Tube: Sterile container(s)
Collection Instructions: 1. This specimen is acceptable when sputum specimen is unavailable (often used in young children). 2. Collect an early-morning specimen (before food and water intake). 3. Label container with patient’s name (first and last) and date and actual time of collection.
Note: Specimen source is required.

Sputum
Container/Tube: Sterile container(s)
Specimen Volume: 5 mL of discharged material
Collection Instructions: Submit specimens on 3 consecutive days (not pooled) as follows: 1. Specimen should be a single, first-morning, “deep-cough” sputum specimen, and patient should not have eaten prior to collection. 2. Instruct patient to brush his/her teeth and/or rinse mouth well with water. 3. Have patient remove dentures. 4. Instruct patient to take a deep breath, hold it momentarily, and cough deeply and vigorously into a tightly-sealing, sterile container. 5. Label container with patient’s name (first and last) and date and actual time of collection.
Note: Specimen source is required.

Stool
Container/Tube: Sterile container
Specimen Volume: 2 g to 3 g of stool
Collection Instructions: 1. Stool specimen is recommended only for detection of Mycobacterium avium-complex involvement in the gastrointestinal tracts of patients with autoimmune deficiency syndrome. 2. Label container with patient’s name (first and last) and date and actual time of collection.
Note: Specimen source is required.

Tissue
Container/Tube: Sterile container
Specimen Volume: 0.5 g of tissue
Collection Instructions: Label container with patient’s name (first and last) and date and actual time of collection.
Note: Specimen source is required.

Urine
Container/Tube: Sterile container(s)
Specimen Volume: 50 mL from a first-morning, random urine collection
Collection Instructions: Label container with patient’s name (first and last) and date and actual time of collection.
Note: Specimen source is required

Reference Range

Negative
If positive, Mycobacterium will be identified.
Critical value (automatic call-back): all positives

Clinical Significance

Useful for isolation and identification of mycobacteria

Performed By
CoxHealth

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.