Lower Respiratory Bacterial Culture and Sensitivity with Gram Stain
General Information
- Lab Name
- Lower Resp C/S w/Gram
- Lab Code
- LRSC
- Epic Name
- Culture Resp Lower, Bact w/ Stain
- Description
For quantitative culture on BAL, see Lower Respiratory Bacterial Culture, Quantitative with Gram Stain [LRSQNC]
For Cystic Fibrosis culture, see Lower Respiratory Culture for Cystic Fibrosis [LRSCFC]
For R/O Mycoplasma pneumoniae, see Mycoplasma pneumoniae by PCR [MPNPCR].
- Synonyms
- BAL Culture, Bronchial Culture, ETT Culture, Sputum Culture
- Components
-
Code Name SDES Specimen Description SREQ Special Requests GS Gram Smear CULT Culture RPT Report Status
Interpretation
- Guidelines
- Reference Range
- See individual components
Ordering & Collection
- Specimen Type
- Sputum, Bronchial Wash, Tracheal Aspirate, Endotracheal Tube Suction (ETT), Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL)
- Collection
-
Sputum: obtain specimen from deep cough (usually in AM), induction or intubation; do not send saliva.
Sputum gram stains are screened for oropharyngeal contamination and specimens are rejected for culture if the gram stain shows few WBC's and moderate squamous epithelial cells. A new specimen will be requested for culture.
- Handling Instructions
Transport specimens in a sterile, leak-proof container. Ideally, specimens should be transported to the laboratory within 2 hours of collection. If transport time will exceed 2 hours, specimens should be stored and transported refrigerated.
Specimens will be rejected if received > 24 hours after collection. Viability of organisms is significantly reduced after 24 hours.
- Quantity
-
Requested: Sputum: 2-5 mL, Tracheal Aspirate: 1-2 mL, BAL: > 1 mL
Minimum: 1 mL
Processing
- Receiving Instructions
If quantitative culture is requested on BAL (not sputum), order LRSQNC.
- Misc Sendout
Performance
- Lab Department
- Microbiology(MC)
- Frequency
- Processed upon receipt
- Available STAT?
- Yes-Gram stain
- 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.
Billing & Coding
- CPT Codes
- 87070, 87205
- LOINC
- 6460-0
- Interfaced Order Code
- UOW2679
- Billing Comments
Bronchial fluid Gram stains are concentrated by cytocentrifugation, which is an additional charge (see ADDCON).