Culture, Eye

Message

If culture is positive, identification and antimicrobial susceptibility will be performed at an additional charge. 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

EYE

CPT Codes
87070, 87205

Instructions

Collect specimen using a swab transport system as follows: 1. Remove cap with swab attached. Moisten swab with sterile saline. Note: Do not use a dry swab to collect an eye culture. 2. Collect specimen by retracting lower lid and swab conjunctival surface or collect eye drainage. 3. Place swab in a sterile culture transport tube. Note Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

Transport Container

Red or green capped culture transport device

Transport Temperature

Refrigerate

Methodology
Conventional culture and gram stain

Clinical Significance

Useful for the detection of potential aerobic pathogens of the eye.

Last Updated: February 4, 2011

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.