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Fungal Culture : 1000367
Test CodeFUNC or 1000367
Alias/See Also
Aspergillus Culture; Blastomyces Culture; Candida Culture; Coccidioides Culture; Cryptococcus Culture; Culture, Aspergillus; Culture, Blastomyces; Culture, Candida; Culture, Cryptococcus; Culture, Fungus; Culture, Histoplasma; Culture, Mycology; Culture,
CPT Codes
87102
Includes
Depending on the source, a Fungal Stain will be performed.
Instructions
Abscess (includes: fistula, wound, sinus tract, and Mycetoma):
1. Clean the surface of the lesion with sterile saline or 70% alcohol. Remove all exudate in order to remove colonizing bacteria that are invariably present. DO NOT sample surface drainage or pus.
2. If the abscess is closed, we strongly recommend that you aspirate any material with a small-gauge needle and syringe. A small quantity of saline (bacteriostatic-free) may be injected into the area and reaspirated if necessary. Place the entire sample into an aerobic/anaerobic transport system. Keep at Room temperature until submitted. If the aspirate volume is less than 1 mL, place the needle guard on the syringe and submit the entire assembly.
3. If the lesion is open, aspiration of material from deep within the lesion (in the case of abscesses) is preferred as in '2.' above. If aspiration is not possible (as in a shallow wound) carefully pass a swab as far as possible into the lesion, avoiding surface material. Swab the base of the lesion and then place the swab into aerobic/anaerobic transport medium. DO NOT allow the swab to dry out.
4. Submit at Room temperature.
Body fluids:
1. Submit in an aerobic/anaerobic transport system or a sterile screw-capped container placed in a ziplock bag, or other sterile, leak-proof container in ziplock bag.
2. Submit at 4 C.
Hair:
1. Remove at least 10-12 affected hairs using forceps.
2. Place in a sterile container or a small regular envelope.
3. Transport at Room temperature.
4. Note any antifungal therapy taken by the patient within the last week.
Nail:
1. Remove all nail polish from the affected nail.
2. Wipe the nail with 70% alcohol (use gauze, not cotton balls).
3. Collect debris from under the nail and place in a sterile clean container envelope or glass tube.
4. Scrape the outer surface of the nail and discard.
5. Collect scraping from the deeper, diseased areas of the nail and place with the previous material collected from under the nail.
6. Submit at Room temperature.
Skin:
1. Clean the surface of the skin with 70% alcohol.
2. Scrape the surface of the skin at the active margin of the lesion. Remove only superficial material. Do not draw blood. Be aware of electrostatic charges that can cause scrapings to 'fly' off.
3. Place in a sterile container, clean envelope, glass tube, or between 2 glass slides.
4. If the specimen is submitted between glass slides, tape the slides together and submit in a slide folder securely fastened.
Skin ulcers:
Routine
1. Clean the surface of the lesion with 70% alcohol.
2. Obtain a full-thickness punch biopsy from the active margin and center of the lesion or ulcer, not just from the central area.
3. Place the specimen in An aerobic/anaerobic transport system or, if not available, a sterile container between gauze moistened with 1-2 drops of bacteriostatic-free saline.
4. Transport at Room temperature.
Skin ulcers:
For Sporothrix Only
1. Clean the surface of the ulcer with 70% alcohol.
2. Vigorously swab the periphery and base of the lesion.
3. Place the swab into aerobic/anaerobic transport medium.
4. Submit at Room temperature.
Sputum:
1. The specimen must be collected under the supervision of a nurse or physician to ensure proper collection.
2. Have the patient rinse his mouth with some fresh drinking water and swallow the water.
3. Instruct the patient to cough deeply to bring up sputum from the lungs. (Be sure to tell the patient you do not want postnasal discharge.)
4. Expectorate the sputum into a sterile container. (The amount of the sputum is not as critical as its quality. If the patient cannot produce sputum, try again later. Do not insist on a specimen. That will usually only produce a sample of saliva or postnasal discharge.)
5. Patients older than 5 years that cannot follow these instructions should have specimens collected by suction (respiratory therapist). Do not substitute a throat swab.
6. Submit specimen a zip lock bag.
7. Submit at 4 C.
Tissue:
1. Submit in an aerobic/anaerobic transport system or a sterile container.
2. If the sample is small and you are using a sterile container, place between gauze moistened with sterile NON bacteriostatic saline. DO NOT ALLOW TISSUE TO DRY OUT.
3. Submit at 4 C.
Urine:
1. Collect as for a bacterial urine culture.
2. Collect in sterile screw-capped container.
3. Submit at 4 C.
Vagina:
1. Wipe away any excessive amounts of secretion or discharge.
2. Swab the mucosa high in the vaginal canal, using an aerobic/anaerobic transport swab.
3. If a smear is also requested, prepare it using a second swab. Air dry and submit in slide folder.
4. Submit at Room temperature.
1. Clean the surface of the lesion with sterile saline or 70% alcohol. Remove all exudate in order to remove colonizing bacteria that are invariably present. DO NOT sample surface drainage or pus.
2. If the abscess is closed, we strongly recommend that you aspirate any material with a small-gauge needle and syringe. A small quantity of saline (bacteriostatic-free) may be injected into the area and reaspirated if necessary. Place the entire sample into an aerobic/anaerobic transport system. Keep at Room temperature until submitted. If the aspirate volume is less than 1 mL, place the needle guard on the syringe and submit the entire assembly.
3. If the lesion is open, aspiration of material from deep within the lesion (in the case of abscesses) is preferred as in '2.' above. If aspiration is not possible (as in a shallow wound) carefully pass a swab as far as possible into the lesion, avoiding surface material. Swab the base of the lesion and then place the swab into aerobic/anaerobic transport medium. DO NOT allow the swab to dry out.
4. Submit at Room temperature.
Body fluids:
1. Submit in an aerobic/anaerobic transport system or a sterile screw-capped container placed in a ziplock bag, or other sterile, leak-proof container in ziplock bag.
2. Submit at 4 C.
Hair:
1. Remove at least 10-12 affected hairs using forceps.
2. Place in a sterile container or a small regular envelope.
3. Transport at Room temperature.
4. Note any antifungal therapy taken by the patient within the last week.
Nail:
1. Remove all nail polish from the affected nail.
2. Wipe the nail with 70% alcohol (use gauze, not cotton balls).
3. Collect debris from under the nail and place in a sterile clean container envelope or glass tube.
4. Scrape the outer surface of the nail and discard.
5. Collect scraping from the deeper, diseased areas of the nail and place with the previous material collected from under the nail.
6. Submit at Room temperature.
Skin:
1. Clean the surface of the skin with 70% alcohol.
2. Scrape the surface of the skin at the active margin of the lesion. Remove only superficial material. Do not draw blood. Be aware of electrostatic charges that can cause scrapings to 'fly' off.
3. Place in a sterile container, clean envelope, glass tube, or between 2 glass slides.
4. If the specimen is submitted between glass slides, tape the slides together and submit in a slide folder securely fastened.
Skin ulcers:
Routine
1. Clean the surface of the lesion with 70% alcohol.
2. Obtain a full-thickness punch biopsy from the active margin and center of the lesion or ulcer, not just from the central area.
3. Place the specimen in An aerobic/anaerobic transport system or, if not available, a sterile container between gauze moistened with 1-2 drops of bacteriostatic-free saline.
4. Transport at Room temperature.
Skin ulcers:
For Sporothrix Only
1. Clean the surface of the ulcer with 70% alcohol.
2. Vigorously swab the periphery and base of the lesion.
3. Place the swab into aerobic/anaerobic transport medium.
4. Submit at Room temperature.
Sputum:
1. The specimen must be collected under the supervision of a nurse or physician to ensure proper collection.
2. Have the patient rinse his mouth with some fresh drinking water and swallow the water.
3. Instruct the patient to cough deeply to bring up sputum from the lungs. (Be sure to tell the patient you do not want postnasal discharge.)
4. Expectorate the sputum into a sterile container. (The amount of the sputum is not as critical as its quality. If the patient cannot produce sputum, try again later. Do not insist on a specimen. That will usually only produce a sample of saliva or postnasal discharge.)
5. Patients older than 5 years that cannot follow these instructions should have specimens collected by suction (respiratory therapist). Do not substitute a throat swab.
6. Submit specimen a zip lock bag.
7. Submit at 4 C.
Tissue:
1. Submit in an aerobic/anaerobic transport system or a sterile container.
2. If the sample is small and you are using a sterile container, place between gauze moistened with sterile NON bacteriostatic saline. DO NOT ALLOW TISSUE TO DRY OUT.
3. Submit at 4 C.
Urine:
1. Collect as for a bacterial urine culture.
2. Collect in sterile screw-capped container.
3. Submit at 4 C.
Vagina:
1. Wipe away any excessive amounts of secretion or discharge.
2. Swab the mucosa high in the vaginal canal, using an aerobic/anaerobic transport swab.
3. If a smear is also requested, prepare it using a second swab. Air dry and submit in slide folder.
4. Submit at Room temperature.
Transport Container
Depending on the source, acceptable containers include: aerobic/anaerobic swab transport system, sterile screw capped container, clean envelope/tube/slide, or anaerobic transport system. See specimen collection information for volumes required.
Transport Temperature
Ambient; however, sterile screw capped containers may be submitted Refrigerated--Varies depending on the source. See specimen collection comments.
Specimen Stability
Transport as quickly as possible.
Methodology
Culture for moulds and yeasts
Setup Schedule
Sunday - Saturday
Report Available
4 weeks
Reference Range
No Fungus isolated
Performing Laboratory
med fusion
