| A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z # |
Nocardia Culture : 1000664
Test CodeNOCC or 1000664
Alias/See Also
Culture, Nocardia; Nocardia Culture
CPT Codes
87081, 87206
Includes
Includes modified AFB Stain.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Modified acid fast stain and culture for Nocardia and other aerobic actinomycetes
Setup Schedule
Sunday - Saturday
Report Available
7 days
Reference Range
No Nocardia isolated
Performing Laboratory
med fusion
