Mycobacteria, Culture, with Fluorochrome Smear [4554X]

Test Code

5202

CPT Codes
87116, 87206

Includes

Mycobacteria Culture, Concentration, Acid-Fast Bacilli Stain

An additional charge for Concentration (CPT code(s): 87015) will be added as appropriate.

Identification will be performed at an additional charge for each organism
CPT code(s) 87118: Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization-Time of Flight or
CPT code(s) 87153: AFB Sequencing

If TB is isolated for the first time or after three months after the first isolate from a patient, susceptibilities will be performed at an additional charge (CPT code(s): 87190 per drug.

Preferred Specimen

10 mL body fluids, lower respiratory tract specimens or gastric lavage collected in a sterile, leak-proof container, or
2 mL CSF collected in a sterile, leak-proof container, or
2 grams fresh (unfixed) tissue collected in a sterile container, or
40 mL urine collected in a plastic urine container, or
1 mL exudate, aspirate, lesion material or ocular specimen collected in a sterile, leak-proof container, or
1 gram or 1 mL stool collected in a sterile, leak-proof container

Patient Preparation
Expectorated sputum: Instruct patient to gargle with water and cough deeply. Three separate early morning collections on at least three consecutive days are recommended.

Minimum Volume

2 mL body fluids, lower respiratory tract specimens or gastric lavage
1 mL CSF
1 gram fresh (unfixed) tissue
20 mL urine
1 mL exudate, aspirate, lesion material or ocular specimen
1 gram or 1 mL stool

Other Acceptable Specimens

Swabs collected in an Amies liquid or gel swab transport system, Stuarts or ESwab, ONLY if tissue biopsy or wound aspirate is not available, or
Samples in an Anaerobic transport medium, ONLY if it is an irreplaceable sample type, or
Throat/oral/sputum swabs from cystic-fibrosis patients

Instructions

Tissue and biopsy material: Sterile, leak-proof container with small amount of saline, no fixative or preservative.
Gastric lavage fluid: Sterile, leak-proof container. Must be neutralized with sodium bicarbonate within 4 hours of collection.

Note: See the alphabetical listing in the Microbiology section of specimen Collection and Handling for further instructions.

Transport Temperature

Refrigerated (cold packs)

Specimen Stability

Room temperature: Unacceptable
Refrigerated: 5 days
Frozen: Unacceptable

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

24 hour pooled urine or sputum • Dry swabs • Specimens received in alcohol, formalin, EDTA, lithium heparin or conventional blood culture bottles • Throat/oral/sputum swabs from non-cystic-fibrosis patients • Urine specimens in preservative tubes

Methodology
Continuous Monitoring Broth Culture System and Conventional Culture • Microscopic Exam with Fluorochrome Stain

Setup Schedule

Set up: Daily; Report available: 6-8 weeks

Reference Range

See Laboratory Report

Clinical Significance

There are more than 70 species of mycobacteria of which the primary pathogen is M. tuberculosis. Tuberculosis is a chronic, granulomatous disease caused by M. tuberculosis. Identification, and, if appropriate, antibiotic sensitivity, is required to initiate necessary therapy.

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.