R/O Nocardia Culture with Modified AFB Smear

Test is for rule out Nocardia only. If full bacterial or fungal cultures are also needed, order additional separate cultures appropriate for specimen source.

Note: Cultures positive for Nocardia will include susceptibility testing.

Preferred: Bronchoalveolar Lavage (BAL) or biopsy.

Acceptable: CSF, aspirate, sputum.

Unacceptable: Specimens collected in Universal Transport Medium (UTM); frozen specimens; leaking specimens; specimens received >24 hours after collection; specimens collected with expired swabs/transport media.

BAL/sputum: Transport specimens in a sterile, leak-proof container, ideally within 2 hours of collection at room temperature, but not more than 24 hours after collection.

Tissue/Fluid: Transport in a sterile container at room temperature, ideally within 2 hours of collection, but not more than 24 hours after collection.

Swab (less optimal): Preferred method of transport is ESwab. Gel swab is acceptable. Transport at room temperature, ideally within 4 hours of collection, but not more than 24 hours after collection.

Refrigerated samples are acceptable, but not ideal if bacterial cultures are also ordered on same specimen. Frozen samples are not acceptable for culture. Alternatively, PCR testing is available on frozen specimens. See Bacterial PCR reflex NGS [BCTDNA] (from sterile sites only).

Specimens will be rejected if received >24 hours after collection. Viability of organisms is significantly reduced after 24 hours.