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Legionella Species Culture : 1000603
Test CodeLEGC or 1000603
Alias/See Also
Legionnaire's Disease
CPT Codes
87081
Instructions
Collect samples so as to avoid as much upper respiratory tract flora as possible.
Specimens include: sputum, BAL, bronchial washings & brush, pleural fluid, chest drainage, trans-tracheal aspirate, lung tissue
Lung tissue:
Submit tissue in sterile container inside a ziplock bag.
Submit as much tissue as possible.
Washings and Aspirates:
Submit in sterile container inside a ziplock bag.
Sputum:
1. The specimen must be collected under the supervision of a nurse or physician to ensure that proper collection procedures are followed.
2. Have the patient rinse their 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 post nasal discharge).
4. Expectorate the sputum into a sterile, leak-proof 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 post nasal discharge.)
5. Patients older than 5 years who cannot follow these instructions should have specimens collected by suction (respiratory therapist). Do not substitute a throat swab.
Specimens include: sputum, BAL, bronchial washings & brush, pleural fluid, chest drainage, trans-tracheal aspirate, lung tissue
Lung tissue:
Submit tissue in sterile container inside a ziplock bag.
Submit as much tissue as possible.
Washings and Aspirates:
Submit in sterile container inside a ziplock bag.
Sputum:
1. The specimen must be collected under the supervision of a nurse or physician to ensure that proper collection procedures are followed.
2. Have the patient rinse their 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 post nasal discharge).
4. Expectorate the sputum into a sterile, leak-proof 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 post nasal discharge.)
5. Patients older than 5 years who cannot follow these instructions should have specimens collected by suction (respiratory therapist). Do not substitute a throat swab.
Transport Container
Submit in a sterile screw capped container.
Transport Temperature
Refrigerated.
Specimen Stability
Transport as quickly as possible.
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Formalin fixed tissue.
Methodology
Culture
Setup Schedule
Sunday - Saturday
Report Available
7 days
Reference Range
No Legionella isolated
Clinical Significance
Legionella pneumophila accounts for approximately 90% of cases of legionellosis.
Performing Laboratory
med fusion
