Culture, Blood

Test Code

389

CPT Codes
87040

Includes

Aerobic Culture and Anaerobic Culture

If culture is positive, identification will be performed at an additional charge (CPT code(s): 87076 or 87106 or 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

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Adults: 8-10 mL of blood collected in one of each BacT/ALERT FA PLUS (Pale Green) and BacT/ALERT FN PLUS (Orange) bottles

Neonates and children 1 to 6 years: 1-3 mL blood collected in a BacT/ALERT PF PLUS (Yellow) bottle

Children weighing 30-80 lbs: 3 mL blood collected in a BacT/ALERT PF PLUS (Yellow) bottle or
8-10 mL blood collected in one of each BacT/ALERT FA PLUS (Pale Green) and BacT/ALERT FN PLUS (Orange) bottles

Minimum Volume

3 mL BacT/ALERT FA PLUS (Pale Green) and BacT/ALERT FN PLUS (Orange) bottles • 0.5 mL BacT/ALERT PF PLUS (Yellow) bottle

Other Acceptable Specimens

Bone marrow cultures: For adults, bone marrow collected in one of each BacT/ALERT FA PLUS (Pale Green) and BacT/ALERT FN PLUS (Orange) bottles • Blood culture bottles compatible with local automated instrumentation

Instructions

Do not pre-incubate bottles prior to shipment

Transport Container

BacT/ALERT FA PLUS (Pale green) and BacT/ALERT FN PLUS (Orange) bottles or
BacT/ALERT PF PLUS (Yellow) bottle

Transport Temperature

Room temperature

Specimen Stability

Room temperature: 48 hours
Refrigerated: Unacceptable
Frozen: Unacceptable

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

Blood specimens collected in EDTA, sodium citrate or anticoagulants such as SPS or heparin

Methodology
Culture using automated continuous monitoring system

Setup Schedule

Daily

Report Available

5 days

Clinical Significance

Bacterial sepsis constitutes one of the most serious infectious diseases. The detection of microorganisms in a patient's blood has importance in the diagnosis and prognosis of endocarditis, septicemia, or chronic bacteremia.

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.