CULTURE, RESPIRATORY LOWER

Message

Notify laboratory if patient has Cystic Fibrosis

If a Mycobacterium species (AFB, TB), fungus or a virus is suspected, refer to AFB Culture, Fungal Culture, or Viral Culture.

Test Code

RESC

Alias/See Also

Sputum

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

Preferred Specimen

Sterile Container

Patient Preparation

Sputum (Expectorate)
1. Have patient rinse or gargle with water to remove superficial flora.
2. Collect early morning specimen; Instruct patient in proper collection of specimen.

3. Instruct patient to cough deeply to produce a lower respiratory specimen.

4. Exam specimen to make sure it contains thick muces. Do not submit saliva.
5. Collect the expectorated sputum in a sterile container.

Sputum (Induced)

1. Have patient rinse mouth with water after brushing gums and tongue.

2. With the aid of a nebulizer, have patients inhale about 25 mL of 3-10% Sterile Saline

3. Collect the induced sputum in a sterile container

Instructions

Document source

Transport Temperature

Refrigerate specimen if there will be a delay in transportation or processing

Specimen Stability

2-8ºC up to 24 hours
15-30ºC up to 2 hours

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

Sputum specimens heavily contaminated with saliva; improperly labeled specimen; or QNS

Methodology
Routine culture

Setup Schedule

M, T, W, Th, F, Sa, Sun

Report Available

Culture examined once per day for 2 days.
Preliminary report available at 24 hours after set up.
Final report available at 2-5 days.

Clinical Significance

To detect and identify the cause of bacterial pneumonia or some other lower respiratory tract infections; to monitor the efficacy of treatment

Performed By
Alverno Laboratories

Performing Laboratory
Alverno Central Lab
NMIC (Microbiology)

Additional Information
Sputum Specimen Collection

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.