| 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 # |
Anaerobic Culture
MessageFor anaerobic culture of wound refer to C WDAN
For anaerobic culture of sterile body fluid refer to C BFAN
For anaerobic culture of tissue or biopsy specimen refer to C TISAN
For quantitative anaerobic culture of bronchial brushing refer to C QAAN
This culture type is lab order only for Western Division sites.
For anaerobic culture of sterile body fluid refer to C BFAN
For anaerobic culture of tissue or biopsy specimen refer to C TISAN
For quantitative anaerobic culture of bronchial brushing refer to C QAAN
This culture type is lab order only for Western Division sites.
Test Code
C ANA
Preferred Specimen
Aspirates, abscesses (pus), sterile body fluids, tissues, or material collected from areas without normal flora placed in anaerobic transport medium. Aspirated specimens are optimal. Please describe site/source in detail.
Culdocentesis fluid (Cul De Sac),
Surgical specimens including Intrauterine Device (IUD)
eSwabs - Do not use swabs unless absolutely necessary. Specimen volume or quantity is critical to culture efficacy.
Urine collected as suprapubic aspirate (needle tap directly from bladder)
Culdocentesis fluid (Cul De Sac),
Surgical specimens including Intrauterine Device (IUD)
eSwabs - Do not use swabs unless absolutely necessary. Specimen volume or quantity is critical to culture efficacy.
Urine collected as suprapubic aspirate (needle tap directly from bladder)
Minimum Volume
Any aspirate or fluid - minimal volume required 1 ml
Tissue / biopsy - as much as possible, transfered aseptically to an anaerobic container or sterile tube / container
Tissue / biopsy - as much as possible, transfered aseptically to an anaerobic container or sterile tube / container
Transport Container
Anaerobic transport tube
Sterile body fluid specimens or any aspirates - collect into a sterile screw capped container.
Surgical specimens such as samples of endometrium, tissue affected by cellulitis or gangrene taken from the active site of the infection, or IUD's - collect into a sterile screw capped container add a small amount of sterile saline (if small tissue sample or IUD) to prevent drying out.
ESwabs only if absolutely necessary - place in transport media
Sterile body fluid specimens or any aspirates - collect into a sterile screw capped container.
Surgical specimens such as samples of endometrium, tissue affected by cellulitis or gangrene taken from the active site of the infection, or IUD's - collect into a sterile screw capped container add a small amount of sterile saline (if small tissue sample or IUD) to prevent drying out.
ESwabs only if absolutely necessary - place in transport media
Transport Temperature
Ambient / room temperature
Specimen Stability
Transport all specimens at ambient / room temperature
For Fluids: Send to the Lab within 30 minutes of collection.
For Tissue samples: In sterile container, send to Lab within 2 hours of collection
For eSwabs or other samples in anaerobic transport tubes: Send to the Lab within 2 hours of collection.
For Fluids: Send to the Lab within 30 minutes of collection.
For Tissue samples: In sterile container, send to Lab within 2 hours of collection
For eSwabs or other samples in anaerobic transport tubes: Send to the Lab within 2 hours of collection.
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Unacceptable specimens:
- Expectorated sputum, induced sputum, endotracheal / tracheostomy aspirates, or bronchoscopies (except by special request).
- Stool or specimen containing fecal material,
- Gastric washings,
- Topical urogenital samples including urethral & vaginal sources
- Superficial material collected with swabs
- Specimen in non-anaerobic container or non-anaerobic culturette,
- Small tissue samples or IUD's allowed to dry out.
- Refrigerated or frozen specimens
- Any urine other than a suprapubic aspirate
- Nasal, throat or tonsillar swabs
Report Available
A preliminary culture report will be available <48 hours.
A final negative culture report will be generated <8 days.
All positive cultures will be reported immediately.
A final negative culture report will be generated <8 days.
All positive cultures will be reported immediately.
Clinical Significance
Anaerobic bacteria are important because they dominate the indigenous flora, they are commonly found in infection, and some of these infections are serious and have a high mortality rate. It is relatively easy to overlook anaerobic infections because special precautions are needed for appropriate collection and transport of specimens. Expecting exact correlation of laboratory results with clinical outcome is not realistic. Infections involving anaerobes are typically polymicrobial and it is often not necessary to eradicate all of the organisms in order to have an effect on a cure. Appropriate surgical manipulations, the patient’s general health status, and the microenvironment at the site of infection will significantly impact the outcome, regardless of whether a particular isolate is susceptible to the antimicrobial regimen.
