Culture, Genital

Message

NOTE: This test is performed at Quest Diagnostics Laboratory in Cincinnati.

Test Code

4558

CPT Codes
87070

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: 87181 or 87184 or 87185 or 87186).

Preferred Specimen

Collect vaginal, endocervical, urethral, prostatic secretions using a red cap Amies liquid transport swab, blue cap Amies gel transport swab, ESwab (white-cap) or equivalent.
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Note: This assay does not rule out Neisseria gonorrhoeae (use test "Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) Culture") or Group B streptococci (use test "Streptococcus, Group B Culture").

Minimum Volume

One transport swab

Other Acceptable Specimens

Red-top liquid Amies tube

Instructions

Indicate source of specimen on both the test requisition and specimen transport device

Transport Container

Transport swab

Transport Temperature

Room temperature

Specimen Stability

Transport swab and sterile container
Room temperature: 48 hours
Refrigerated: Unacceptable
Frozen: Unacceptable

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

Expired transport swabs • Frozen specimens or requests for anaerobic culture

Methodology
Bacteriologic Culture, Aerobic
Includes routine isolation and identification procedures. Antibiotic susceptibility testing when appropriate.

Setup Schedule

Daily

Report Available

2 days

Clinical Significance

The significance of any isolate(s), in pure or mixed culture, must be assessed with respect to the source cultured, the organism's pathogenic potential, the possibility of colonization versus infection, and the number of other organisms recovered from the same culture.

Performing Laboratory

Quest Diagnostics-Seattle

1737 Airport Way S Suite 200

Seattle, WA 98134-1636

Last Updated: November 6, 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.