Beta Strep Throat Culture

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General Information

Lab Name
Beta Strep Throat Culture
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, susceptibilities are not routinely performed for isolates from the throat.

Order Expanded Throat Culture [URSC] to include testing for Arcanobacterium haemolyticum or Fusobacterium necrophorum, in addition to Beta hemolytic Streptococcus A, C, G.

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?
No
Performing Location(s)
CL Division of Infectious Disease Diagnostics (DIDD) - Phenotypic Microbiology
206-520-4600

1601 Lind Ave SW
Room 466
Renton, WA 98057

Hours of Operation:
Monday to Sunday: 7:00 AM– 11:30 PM
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