GRAM STAIN

Test Code

LAB250

Quest Code

497

CPT Codes
87205

Preferred Specimen

3 mL or 2 grams body fluids, CSF, lower respiratory tract specimens, urine or fresh (unfixed) tissue collected in a sterile leak-proof container
1 mL or 1 swab wound, exudates, aspirates, lesion material or ocular specimens collected in a sterile leak-proof container, Amies liquid, Amies gel swab transport system, Stuarts, ESwab, or Port-A-Cul™.
Slides are also acceptable.

Minimum Volume

1 mL • 1 gram • 1 swab • 1 slide

Other Acceptable Specimens

3 mL stool collected in a sterile, leak-proof container

Instructions

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Specimen requirement: Primary specimen from any source in sterile leak-proof container or heat-fixed or methanol-fixed smear in a slide folder. Tissues or brushes in transport medium or in a small amount of sterile saline are acceptable. Stool will only be examined for campylobacter. If culture is requested second swab must be submitted.

Transport Container

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Body fluids, CSF, lower respiratory secretions, urine, tissue
Sterile leak-proof container (preferred), slide (acceptable)

Wound, exudates, aspirates, lesion material, ocular specimens
Sterile leak-proof container, Amies liquid, gel swab transport system, Stuarts, ESwab, or Port-A-Cul™ (preferred), slide (acceptable)

Transport Temperature

All specimens other than stool: Room temperature
Stool: Refrigerated (cold packs)

Specimen Stability

CSF
Room temperature: 48 hours
Refrigerated: Unacceptable
Frozen: Unacceptable

Stool
Room temperature: Unacceptable
Refrigerated: 48 hours
Frozen: Unacceptable

Port-A-Cul™
Room temperature: 72 hours
Refrigerated: 72 hours
Frozen: Unacceptable

All other specimen types
Room temperature: 48 hours
Refrigerated: 48 hours
Frozen: Unacceptable

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

Smears with cytology fixatives • Broken slides

Methodology
Microscopic Examination

Setup Schedule

a.m. Daily

Report Available

2 days

Clinical Significance

The gram stain is a rapid, preliminary test to assess the quality of specimens, identify bacterial infections, and to guide the initial antibacterial therapy.

Performing Laboratory

Quest Diagnostics-Lenexa

10101 Renner Blvd

Lenexa , KS 66219-9752

Last Updated: August 13, 2021

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.