Culture, Throat, Special with Group A Strep Susceptibility

Test Code

14541

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 will be performed on Group A Streptococcus isolates. Susceptibilities will be performed on other pathogens 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 Amies gel transport swab, ESwab (white-cap) or equivalent

Minimum Volume

One transport swab

Transport Container

Transport swab

Transport Temperature

Room temperature

Specimen Stability

Deliver to the microbiology lab ASAP
Transport swab: Room temperature: 48 hours

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

Expired transport device • Frozen specimens • Requests for anaerobic culture

Methodology
Bacterial culture • Aerobic routine isolation and identification procedures antibiotic susceptibility testing to be performed on all isolates of group a streptococcus, along with other organisms as appropriate.

Setup Schedule

Daily

Report Available

2 days

Clinical Significance

The significance of any isolate 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 in 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.