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Gram Stain [497X]
Test Code49789
CPT Codes
87205
Preferred Specimen
3 mL CSF submitted in a sterile, leak-proof container
Minimum Volume
1 mL or 1 gram
Other Acceptable Specimens
3 mL or 2 grams body fluids, or lower respiratory tract specimens, or urine, or fresh (unfixed) tissue, submitted in a sterile, leak-proof container • 1 mL or 1 swab wound, exudates, aspirates, lesion material or ocular specimens collected in a sterile, leak-proof container, Amies liquid, Amies gel swab transport system, Stuarts', ESwab or Port-a-cul™ • Stool • Slides
Instructions
Primary specimen from any source in sterile, leak-proof container or heat-fixed or methanol-fixed smear in a slide folder. Tissues or brushes in transport medium or in a small amount of sterile saline are acceptable.
Stool will only be examined for Campylobacter. If culture is requested second swab must be submitted.
Stool will only be examined for Campylobacter. If culture is requested second swab must be submitted.
Transport Temperature
All specimens other than stool: Room temperature
Stool: Refrigerated (cold packs)
Stool: Refrigerated (cold packs)
Specimen Stability
CSF
Room temperature: 48 hours
Refrigerated: Unacceptable
Frozen: Unacceptable
Stool
Room temperature: Unacceptable
Refrigerated: 48 hours
Frozen: Unacceptable
Port-a-cul™
Room temperature: 72 hours
Refrigerated: 72 hours
Frozen: Unacceptable
All other specimen types
Room temperature: 48 hours
Refrigerated: 48 hours
Frozen: Unacceptable
Room temperature: 48 hours
Refrigerated: Unacceptable
Frozen: Unacceptable
Stool
Room temperature: Unacceptable
Refrigerated: 48 hours
Frozen: Unacceptable
Port-a-cul™
Room temperature: 72 hours
Refrigerated: 72 hours
Frozen: Unacceptable
All other specimen types
Room temperature: 48 hours
Refrigerated: 48 hours
Frozen: Unacceptable
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Smears with cytology fixatives • Broken slides
Methodology
Microscopic Examination
Setup Schedule
Set up: Daily all shifts; Report available: 1-2 days
Reference Range
See Laboratory Report
Clinical Significance
The gram stain is a rapid, preliminary test to assess the quality of specimens, identify bacterial infections, and to guide the initial antibacterial therapy.
