Culture, Aerobic Bacteria

Test Code

4550

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 code(s): 87181 or 87184 or 87185 or 87186).

Preferred Specimen

Wounds, abscess, aspirates or drainage collected in Amies liquid transport swab, Amies gel transport swab, Amies liquid elution swab ESwab™ or equivalent or submit in a sterile, leak-proof container or capped syringe

Minimum Volume

One transport swab

Instructions

If submitting in syringe, remove needle, expel air, and recap syringe.

Note: For deep wounds and surgical specimens or whenever anaerobic infection must be ruled out, see culture, aerobic and anaerobic with gram stain.

Transport Container

Transport swab or sterile, leak-proof container or capped syringe

Transport Temperature

Room temperature

Specimen Stability

Room temperature: 48 hours
Refrigerated: 48 hours
Frozen: Unacceptable

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

Received frozen • Specimens submitted in formalin • Dry swabs • Expired transport media • Specimens >48 hours old • Nails • Molecular transport systems • Post-mortem specimens • Skin scrapings • Specimens submitted in formalin • Swabs of oral specimens (ex. gums, teeth) • Wooden-shafted, cotton tipped swabs • Calcium alginate swabs

Methodology
Bacterial Culture, Aerobic
Includes routine isolation and identification procedures, antimicrobic susceptibility testing when appropriate

Setup Schedule

Daily

Report Available

2 days

Clinical Significance

Aerobic bacteria cause a variety of human infections. Proper specimen collection and transport, media and incubation are important criteria for the recovery of aerobes. The primary aerobic bacterial agents of skin and tissue infections include S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, members of the enterobacteriaceae, and beta-hemolytic streptococci. The results of aerobic cultures assist the clinician with diagnosis and treatment of patients with bacterial infections. Proper interpretation of culture results is dependent on specimen source and known pathogenicity of the isolated organism.

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.