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Culture, Throat
MessageIf culture is positive, identification and antimicrobial susceptibility will be performed at an additional charge. Susceptibility testing on Streptococcus group A must be requested at the time of order. For diagnostic purposes, clinical specimens should be collected before the initiation of therapy since even a few days of treatment may render the culture negative. Day(s) Test Set Up: Monday through Sunday
Test Code
TCUL
CPT Codes
87070
Instructions
1. Obtain specimen using a culture swab. 2. Remove cap and swab from tube. 3. Tilt patient’s head back to assist in opening of mouth as wide as possible. 4. Depress tongue with a tongue depressor so swab doesn’t touch tongue and also avoid lateral walls of buccal cavity. 5. Have patient say “ah” while sweeping back and forth across posterior pharynx. 6. If patient has complained of 1 spot being sore, swab that area well. 7. In one continuous motion: 8. Swab 1 tonsillar area up then down. 9. Move to the back of throat as far down as possible and swab there. 10. Move to other tonsillar area and swab. 11. Swab behind uvula and remove swab. 12. Return swab to a sterile culture transport tube. Note: Specimen source is required on request form for processing.
Transport Container
Red capped culture transport device
Transport Temperature
Refrigerate
Methodology
Conventional culture
Clinical Significance
Useful for the detection of aerobic pathogens in throat specimens.
Last Updated: February 16, 2011