URINE CULTURE

Message

Cultures with > 100,000 of 3 or more organisms are considered contaminated and will not be worked up.
Clean Catch and Random urines with no growth will be finaled in 18-24 hours. Urine from catherized pateints will be reported after 36-48 hours.

Test Code

UCG

Alias/See Also

Urine Clean Catch, Cath Urine
UC

CPT Codes
87086

Includes

If culture is positive, identification will be performed at an additional charge (CPT code(s): 87077 or 87140 or 87143 or 87147 or 87149).
Antibiotic susceptibilities are only performed when appropriate (CPT code(s): 87181 or 87184 or 87185 or 87186).

Preferred Specimen

5 to 10 mLs Clean-voided midstream urine

Minimum Volume

1 mL

Other Acceptable Specimens

Catheter urine, Ileal conduit, Suprpubic needle aspirated urine, Cystoscopy

Instructions

Clean area with soap and water and rinse with water. After several milliliters have passed collect a midstream portion without stopping the flow of urine.

Transport Container

Sterile Urine Cup,

Urine transport tube containing preservative suitable to perform urine cultures (freezed dried boric acid-glycerol or boric acid-sodium formate).
or Unused (has not went through Iris) yellow or red/yellow top urine

Transport Temperature

Room Temperature

Specimen Stability

Room Temperatue: Sterile cup - 2 hours
Urine transport tube - 48 hours.
Refrigerated: Sterile cup - 2 hours
Urine transport tube - 48 hours .

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

Samples not labeled with complete first, last name and date of birth.
24 hour urine collections.
Urine collected from bag of a catherterized patient.
Urine that are visibly contaminated with fecal flora.
Urine collected in Yellow top tube used for Urinalysis.

Methodology
Culture

Setup Schedule

when received

Report Available

24-72 hours.
See note in Message

Last Updated: October 21, 2024

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.