RESPIRATORY CULTURE AND GRAM STAIN

Test Code

LAB1230009

CPT Codes
87070, 87205

Includes

Gram Stain, Bacterial Culture, and Antibiotic Susceptibilites (when indicated) for respiratory pathogens.

Preferred Specimen

BRONCHIAL WASH: Bronchial Wash in sterile leak-proof container
TRACHEAL ASPIRATE Tracheal aspirate in sterile leak-proof container.
SPUTUM: Sputum in sterile leak-proof container.

Minimum Volume

BRONCHIAL WASH: 5 mL washings
SPUTUM: 5 mL sputum

Instructions

Do not send specimens with attached tubes.

Specimen Stability

BRONCHIAL WASH: Ambient: 2 hours, Refrigerated: if transport delayed > 2 hours
TRACHEAL ASPIRATE or SPUTUM: Refrigerate if specimen is not transported within 2 hours.

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

BRONCHIAL WASH: Specimens sent with contaminated outer containers will not be processed, Anaerobic cultures are not appropriate for this specimen site.
TRACHEAL ASPIRATE: A contaminated outer surface of container. Only one specimen per day will be routinely cultured.
SPUTUM: Non-leukopenic patients, specimens with < 25 WBC or > 10 squamous epithelial cells per low power field will not routinely be cultured due to poor specimen quality. Specimens sent with a contaminated outer surface and specimens collected in tissues (Kleenex) will be rejected. Only 1 specimen per day will be processed.

Methodology
Culture

Setup Schedule

Sunday- Saturday

Reference Range

Normal respiratory flora, Negative for respiratory pathogens.

Performing Laboratory
West Virginia Unviersity Hosptial,Inc.

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.