R/O Beta Strep Culture
General Information
- Lab Name
- R/O Beta Strep Culture
- Lab Code
- BSC
- Epic Ordering
- Culture Strep, Beta (Groups A, C, G)
- Description
Includes testing for beta strep groups A, C and G only. Because of the uniform susceptibility of groups A, C and G Streptococcus to penicillin, routine susceptibilities are not routinely performed on isolates of these organisms from the upper respiratory tract.
Order Upper Respiratory Culture and Sensitivity without Direct Exam [URSC] if complete upper respiratory culture, including rule out Arcanobacterium, is required.
Order R/O Gonorrhoeae without Gram [GCC] if rule out Neisseria gonorrhoeae is required.
Order R/O Yeast Culture with Direct Exam [YSTF] if rule out yeast is required.
- Synonyms
- Beta hemolytic Streptococcus pyogenes, Group A, Group C, Group G, throat, throat culture
- Components
-
Code Name SDES Specimen Description SREQ Special Requests CULT Culture RPT Report Status
Interpretation
- Reference Range
- See individual components
Ordering & Collection
- Specimen Type
- Throat, pharynx, tonsil
- Collection
-
Collect from posterior pharynx, tonsils, or any inflamed or ulcerated areas.
Preferred transport media: ESwab.
Acceptable: Amies gel swab.
Unacceptable: Universal Transport Medium (UTM); specimens received >2 days after collection; expired swabs/transport media.
- Handling Instructions
Stability
Ambient: 2 days; Refrigerated: 2 days; Frozen: UnacceptableNote: If rapid strep antigen (BSARD) test is also requested on a single swab: Swab must be in LIQUID (not gel or ESwab) transport medium such as Stuart's.
- Quantity
-
requested: ESwab
minimum: ESwab
Processing
- Processing
If rapid strep antigen (BSARD) test is requested on same swab, reject BSARD test if swab is in a gel transport or liquid transport (ESwab).
Inoculate BSC agar plate before performing the antigen test because the reagents inhibit bacterial growth.
Log in URSC (includes R/O gr A Strep) instead of BSC if complete upper respiratory culture is requested.
Performance
- LIS Dept Code
- Microbiology (MC)
- Performing Location(s)
-
HMC Microbiology
206-744-5858325 9th Ave, Rm # GWH-47, Seattle, WA 98104-2420
UW-MT Microbiology
206-520-4600Clinical Lab, Room # NW177,
University of Washington Medical Center,
1959 NE Pacific street, Seattle, WA 98195 - Other Locations/Notes
-
UW-MT Microbiology performs testing for UW-MT and UW-NW.
- Frequency
- Processed upon receipt
- Available STAT?
- No
Billing & Coding
- CPT codes
- 87081
- LOINC
- 546-2
- Interfaced Order Code
- UOW2932