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Gram Stain
| Item | Value | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Approval req'd? | No | ||||||||
| Available Stat? | Parnassus:
Mount Zion:
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| Test code | P057 | ||||||||
| Performed by | Microbiology (Hematology for stats) | ||||||||
| In House Availability | Non-Stat requests performed daily 7:30 AM -11:30 PM See information under 'Available stat?' for stat testing availability |
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| Method | Gram stain and Microscopy | ||||||||
| Collection Instructions | CSF: Submit in sterile tube in collection kit. Fluids: Submit in a vacutainer tube (red top) or sterile black-top tube Tissue: Submit in the clear anaerobic transport medium (OR) or in an empty sterile container. Swabs: Always submit 2 swabs in the black Amies charcoal transport medium, one for the Gram stain and the other for the culture. Urine: Submit in non-sterile clean, plastic cup or vacutainer tube without preservative (red top). Sputum: Submit in non-sterile clean, plastic cup. Bacterial vaginosis or yeast: Vaginal discharge (smear on a slide or swab in charcoal transport media) is to be submitted for Gram stain. Note: for diagnosing GC from male urethra see: Gonococcus (GC only) Culture-male urethral specimens |
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| Container type | See Collection instructions | ||||||||
| Sample type | Respiratory, urine*, genital, wound*, CSF**, body fluid**, tissue* * considered 'sterile' if collected in the OR or by sterile means ** considered normally sterile sites See Additional information |
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| Normal range | |||||||||
| Critical value | Positive gram stains on samples from normally sterile sites (except urine) will be phoned. | ||||||||
| Synonyms | bacterial smear | ||||||||
| Turn around times |
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| Additional information | STAT Gram stains are read by Hematology at Moffitt-Long and by Mount Zion Laboratory. STAT Gram stains are done on normally sterile site only. Normally sterile site specimens include CSF and other sterile body fluids (e.g. vitreous, pleural, peritoneal, ascites, amniotic, or joint fluids, bile, dialysates), sterile body tissues, and other specimens from specialized invasive procedures (e.g. bronchoalveolar lavage), and transfused blood product in the case of a transfusion reaction |
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| CPT coding | 87205 | ||||||||
| LOINC code | 664-3 | ||||||||
| Last Updated | 9/8/2012 2:15:49 PM | ||||||||
| Entry Number | 455 |
If you have additional questions regarding this test, please call: 415-353-1667