Culture, Eye

Test Code

4480

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

Collect specimen using a red cap Amies liquid transport swab, blue cap Amies gel transport swab, ESwab (white-cap) or equivalent.
Corneal scrapings should be collected using a sterile corneal spatula and placed directly on appropriate culture media (contact laboratory to obtain media prior to collection).

Minimum Volume

One transport swab

Instructions

For corneal scrapings, it is recommended to inoculate the material at the time of collection onto the media. For swabs, it is recommended to culture both eyes with separate swabs. If two swabs are collected, submit as separate test orders. Specify source on requisition and specimen transport device.

Transport Container

Transport swab or bacterial culture media

Transport Temperature

Room temperature

Specimen Stability

Room temperature: 48 hours
Refrigerated: Unacceptable
Frozen: Unacceptable

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

Expired transport device • Dry swabs • Expired culture media • Specimens in formalin or other fixatives • Wooden-shafted, cotton tipped swabs • Calcium alginate swabs • Viral transport medium

Methodology
Culture

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.