CULTURE, BRONCHIAL

Message

This test is for aerobic, routine culture. If fungal or AFB culture testing is required, please order individually.
Percutaneous transtracheal aspiration, needle, or open lung tissue biopsy specimens are ordered as a Culture, Tissue.
Please indicate site of collection (i.e., left or right upper or lower lobe)

Test Code

BRONC

Alias/See Also

Bronchial culture; Bronch culture

CPT Codes
87070 Culture, bacterial; any other source except urine, blood, or stool with isolation and presumptive identification of isolates 87205 Smear, primary source with interpretation; Gram or Giemsa stain for bacteria, fungi, or cell types The following testing may be added as appropriate based on findings for organism identification (multiple additions are possible if more than one organism is identified) and to aid in patient treatment management. 87077 Aerobic isolate, additional methods required for definitive identification, each isolate if appropriate 87106 Culture, fungi, definitive identification, each organism, yeast if appropriate 87107 Culture, mold, definitive identification, each organism, mold if appropriate 87206 Smear, primary source with interpretation, fluorescent and/or acid fast stain for bacteria, fungi, or cell types if appropriate 87184 Susceptibility studies, disk method, per plate if appropriate 87185 Enzyme detection, per enzyme if appropriate 87186 Susceptibility studies, microdilution or agar dilution, each multiantimicrobial, per plate if appropriate

Includes

Includes: Culture; Gram Stain; Organism ID if Indicated; Sensitivity if Indicated

Minimum Volume

1 mL

Instructions

Refrigerate

Transport Temperature

Refrigerate

Specimen Stability

Sample must arrive to the lab and be set up within 24 hours of collection.

Transport refrigerated.

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

Samples will be rejected for anaerobic culture

Methodology

Routine culture

Setup Schedule

M, Tu, W, Th, F, Sa, Su

Report Available

Preliminary report at 24 hours; final report available within 48 hours of set up.

Reference Range

Normal flora with no isolated pathogens

Clinical Significance

Respiratory specimens are cultured in an attempt to identify the etiologic agents of bacterial pneumonia (lower respiratory infection). Bronchoalveolar lavage, washings, or brushings minimizes the contamination with upper respiratory flora and therefore increases isolation of the etiologic agent.

Performed By
Alverno Laboratories

Performing Laboratory
Alverno Central Lab
NMIC (Microbiology)

Last Updated: June 6, 2023

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.