Expanded Throat Culture

General Information

Lab Name
Expanded Throat Culture
Lab Code
URSC
Epic Name
Expanded Throat Culture
Description

Culture includes testing for beta-hemolytic Streptococcus groups A, C, G, Arcanobacterium haemolyticum, and Fusobacterium necrophorum.

Order Beta Strep Throat Culture [BSC] if only rule out strep groups A, C and G 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.

Order R/O MRSA Bacterial Culture only without Gram [MRSAC] if rule out MRSA is required.

Synonyms
Arcanobacterium haemolyticum, Beta-hemolytic strep, Fusobacterium necrophorum, Lemierre Syndrome, Pharyngitis, Pharynx, Strep, Streptococcus, Tonsil, Tonsillitis
Components

Interpretation

Method

Culture

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 in expired swabs/transport media, specimens not received in transport media (dry), frozen specimens. Specimens received >1 day after collection should be recollected.

Handling Instructions

Stability
Ambient: 1 day; Refrigerated: 1 day; Frozen: Unacceptable

Quantity
Requested: ESwab
Minimum: ESwab

Processing

Receiving Instructions
Misc Sendout

Performance

Lab Department
Microbiology(MC)
Frequency
Processed upon receipt
Available STAT?
No
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
87070
LOINC
32355-0
Interfaced Order Code
UOW4990