Culture, Catheter Tip

Test Code

C TIP - MM MMC

CPT Codes
87070, 87077, per organism (if appropriate), 87186 per organism (if appropriate)

Preferred Specimen

Subclavian catheter tip or art line tip.
Urethral catheter tip is not acceptable

Instructions

Aseptically remove the subclavian catheter tip or art line tip from the patient being careful to avoid contamination with normal flora from skin or other body surfaces. About 2 inch of the line will be cultured.
Submit specimen in a screw-capped, sterile container.
Label container (not lid) with two patient identifiers (full name, DOB or MR), specimen source, and date and time of collection.
Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

Transport Temperature

Refrierate

Specimen Stability

Specimen Type	Temperature	Time
Cath tip	Refrigerate

Methodology
Conventional Culture Media
Note: Every organism identified by a commercial kit must be billed for bacterial identification. Any organism that requires susceptibility testing will be charged for a minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC).

Setup Schedule

Monday through Sunday; Continuously

Report Available

3 - 4 days

Reference Range

No growth in 3 days or <15 colony count

Clinical Significance

For the purpose of diagnosing catheter-related blood stream infection

Performing Laboratory
McKee Medical Center - Microbiology/Molecular Laboratory

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.