Bone Marrow Culture

Message

Bone Marrow Culture for AFB, Mycobacterium, TB or MAI refer to C AFB
Bone Marrow Culture for Fungus (mould) refer to C F

Test Code

C BM

Includes

Routine culture includes Gram stain

Preferred Specimen

*Call Laboratory for SPS tube
Bone Marrow for Routine Culture or AFB or Fungus
Approximately ≥1 mL inoculated into a yellow Wampole Isolator 1.5 Microbial Tube (a.k.a. Pediatric Isolator tube) or SPS tube

Other Acceptable Specimens

Approximately ≥1 mL inoculated into a yellow Vacutainer SPS tube

Instructions

NOTE: 1 tube each per test ordered, i.e. one for Routine, one for AFB, one for Fungus Culture

Specimen Stability

Send to the Lab within 2 hours of collection.
DO NOT refrigerate specimens
DO NOT place specimens on ice.

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

Unacceptable specimens:
Green top (heparin)
Blue top (sodium citrate)
Purple top (EDTA)
Gray top (sodium fluoride)
Yellow-top Vacutainer w/ACD Solution

Clinical Significance

Bone marrow is submitted for culture when the patient seems to have a chronic or overwhelming infection which has not been identified by other means. Diagnosis of several unusual infections, including Brucellosis, Histoplasmosis and Salmonella osteomyelitis can sometimes only be accomplished by detection of the organisms in bone marrow. Because bone marrow is normally sterile, any organism isolated must be carefully evaluated.
Most common pathogens: Mycobacteria, fungi (especially Histoplasma or C.neoformans) and Salmonella.
Most common contaminants: skin flora (during collection).

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.