Test Code C Fluid Culture Fluid

Important Note

If specimen is one of the following, please order Culture Anaerobe instead:

Abdominal fluid
Ascites
Cholecystectomy fluid
Gastric fluid
Pancreatic fluid
Paracentesis

Patient Preparation

See Collection Instructions

Special Collection Instructions

Specimen	Instructions
Amniotic fluid	Aspirate via amniocentesis, cesarean section, or intrauterine catheter. NOTE: Swabbing or aspiration of vaginal membrane is not acceptable due to vaginal contamination.
Gastric fluid	Collect early in morning before patient eats & while still in bed. Introduce a nasogastric tube orally or nasally to stomach. Perform lavage with 25-50 mL of chilled, sterile DI water. Recover sample and place in sterile leak proof container.
All other body fluids	Disinfect overlying skin with 2% iodine tincture or chloroprep. Obtain specimen via percutaneous needle aspiration or surgery. Remove needle & place safety cap on syringe.

Collection Method

Follow appropriate collection procedures

Minimum Volume

1.0 mL

Container

Sterile container
Syringe (needle removed and safety capped)
Bactec Blood Culture Bottles

Acceptable Specimens

Amniotic Fluid
Bile
Breast Milk
Chest Tube Fluid
Cyst
Disc Space
Fluid, Gallbladder
Joint Fluid
Pericardial Effusion
Pericardial Fluid
Peritoneal Fluid
Pleural Effusion
Pleural Fluid
Seroma
Synovial Fluid
Thoracentesis Fluid
Transudate

Reference or Target Ranges

Negative

Reportable Units

Positive/Negative

Critical Value

Not defined for this assay

Reasons for Rejection

Hemolysis Threshold	N/A
Icterus Threshold	N/A
Lipemia Threshold	N/A
Other	QNS, contaminated, improperly labled, improper specimen type

Specimen Stability

Ambient	15 minutes
Refrigerated (4°C to 8°C)	N/A
Frozen(-40°C to 0°C)	N/A

Performance Information

Days and Time Performed	Daily
Expected Turn Around Time	3 days
Stat Availabilty	No
Performing Bench	Microbiology
Methodology/Method Description	Culture

CPT Codes

87070