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Misc Smear/Gram Stain
Test CodeMSSM
CPT Codes
87205
Preferred Specimen
Any source except blood, fluid, genital, respiratory, stool or urine.
Instructions
Collect specimen aseptically; transport in a sterile container or dual culturette swab. Avoid swab collections when possible for swabs absorb the specimen and severely reduce specimen volume for culture.
Transport Container
Sterile Container or Dual Culturette Swab
Transport Temperature
RT up to 2 hrs then 2-8 C
Specimen Stability
2-8 C for up to 24 hrs.
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Improperly labelled; Improper storage/transport
Methodology
Microscopic examination; gram stain
Setup Schedule
Daily upon receipt
Report Available
Upon Completion of Analysis
Reference Range
No Bacteria Seen
Clinical Significance
The gram stain is a critical test for the rapid, presumptive diagnosis of infectious agents and also serves to assess the quality of clinical specimens.