Beta Strep Throat Culture

General Information

Lab Name

Lab Code

BSC

Epic Name

Beta Strep Throat Culture

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 Expanded Throat Culture [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: Unacceptable

Note: 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

Receiving Instructions: 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.

Misc Sendout

Performance

Lab Department

Microbiology(MC)

Frequency

Processed upon receipt

Available STAT?

Performing Location(s)

HMC	Microbiology 206-744-5858 325 9th Ave, Rm # GWH-47, Seattle, WA 98104-2420
UW-MT	Microbiology 206-520-4600 Clinical 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.

Billing & Coding

CPT Codes: 87081
LOINC: 546-2
Interfaced Order Code: UOW2932