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Streptococcus Group A Culture [4485X]
Test Code6470
CPT Codes
87081
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).
Antibiotic susceptibilities are only performed when appropriate (CPT code(s): 87181 or 87184 or 87185 or 87186).
Preferred Specimen
Collect throat specimen using a red-cap Amies liquid transport swab, blue-cap gel transport swab, ESwab (white-cap), or equivalent
Minimum Volume
1 swab
Other Acceptable Specimens
Specimens from other body sites potentially colonized or infected with group A streptococcus, submitted using a red cap amies liquid transport swab, blue-cap amies gel transport swab, eswab (white-cap) or equivalent
Instructions
Indicate source of specimen on both requisition and specimen transport device. Specimens should be obtained before antibiotic therapy. Any antibiotics currently prescribed to the patient should be indicated on the requisition.
Use a sterile culture swab to sample the back of the throat (posterior pharynx), tonsillar crypts, and between the tonsillar pillars and uvula. Avoid touching the lips, cheeks, tongue, and uvula.
Please note: Throat specimens should not be collected if the patient may have epiglottitis, a rapidly progressing cellulitis with potential to cause complete airway obstruction. If epiglottitis is suspected, prompt otolaryngologic consultation for airway management is suggested. Swabs for Neisseria gonorrhoeae culture should be immediately plated onto JEMBEC (Neigon) plates and ordered separately, (test code 657).
Use a sterile culture swab to sample the back of the throat (posterior pharynx), tonsillar crypts, and between the tonsillar pillars and uvula. Avoid touching the lips, cheeks, tongue, and uvula.
Please note: Throat specimens should not be collected if the patient may have epiglottitis, a rapidly progressing cellulitis with potential to cause complete airway obstruction. If epiglottitis is suspected, prompt otolaryngologic consultation for airway management is suggested. Swabs for Neisseria gonorrhoeae culture should be immediately plated onto JEMBEC (Neigon) plates and ordered separately, (test code 657).
Transport Temperature
Room temperature
Specimen Stability
Room temperature: 48 hours
Refrigerated: Unacceptable
Frozen: Unacceptable
Refrigerated: Unacceptable
Frozen: Unacceptable
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Specimens >48 hours old • Expired transport devices • Viral transport medium • DNA Probe transport devices • Dry swabs
Methodology
Bacterial Culture, Aerobic Routine Isolation and Identification Procedures; susceptibility testing not routinely performed
Setup Schedule
Set up: Daily; Report available: 3 days
Reference Range
No Group A Streptococci isolated
Clinical Significance
Recovery of group A streptococcus from a symptomatic patient is usually considered significant.
Performing Laboratory
Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute
14225 Newbrook Drive
Chantilly, VA 20153
