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Gram Stain
Test Code497
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.
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 or 1 gram
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 Temperature
All specimens other than stool: Room temperature
Stool: Refrigerated (cold packs)
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
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
Sets up 7 days a week.
Report Available
Reports in 1 to 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.