WOUND, SUPERFICIAL/NON-STERILE SITE, CULTURE AND GRAM STAIN

Test Code

LAB503

CPT Codes
87205, 87070

Includes

Gram Stain (dual swabs adn E-swabs only), Bacterial culture and Susceptibility (if indicated). Anaerobic culture is NOT included.

Preferred Specimen

E-swab (preferred) or standard aerobic culture swab.

Instructions

If excessive exudate is present, cleanse area well with normal saline before swabbing to remove commensal, contaminating flora. Where possible, collection of tissue, aspirate or fluid will provide higher diagnostic yield.

Transport Temperature

Refrigerated

Specimen Stability

Refrigerated: 24 hours (Note: If gonorrhea issuspected leave at ambient temperature and transport to lab immediately)

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

Specimen submitted in fixative (e.g. formalin, cytolyte, etc). Dry swabs will be rejected. Gram stain not performed on specimens on single standard culture swab.

Methodology
Culture

Setup Schedule

Sunday-Saturday

Reference Range

No growth in three days.

Performing Laboratory
West Virginia University Hospital, Inc.
Berkeley Medical Center
Braxton County Memorial
Camden Clark Medical Center
Jackson General Hospital
Jefferson Medical Center
Princeton Community Hospital
Reynolds Memorial Hospital
Summersville Regional Medical Center
United Hospital Center
Uniontown Hospital
Wetzel County Hospital
Wheeling Hospital

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.