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Lab Manual for Moffitt-Long and Mount Zion

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Bacterial Culture, Body Fluid

Item Value
Approval req'd? No
Available Stat? No
Test code P077
Test group Bacterial Culture
Performed by Microbiology
In House Availability Set up daily, day and evening shifts
Method Aerobic and Anaerobic culture
Collection Instructions Guidelines for submission of peritoneal fluid (abdominal fluid, ascitic fluid, dialysis fluid) for bacterial culture:

First inoculate 10ml into each of aerobic and anaerobic blood culture bottles at the patient's bedside for optimal growth and recovery of organisms. Divide the fluid equally among the bottles if < 20 mL is obtained.

Additional fluid may be submitted in a sterile tube, which allows for gram stain to be performed and faster identification of bacteria present at high concentrations.

Contact the microbiology laboratory with any questions, x 31268

Submit non-peritoneal fluids in sterile tube or in the syringe used for collection with the needle removed and the tip capped. Lab will NOT accept samples in syringes bearing needles.

Specimen label must contain the date the sample was collected and the legible name of the person who collected the sample.
Container type Red top or clean container
Sample type Body fluid
Processing notes Maintain sample at room temperature
Normal range
Stability Room temperature 24 hours
Reflex? If bacteria are detected that are not normal mixed flora they are automatically identified and susceptibility testing is performed.

Full ID and/or susceptibility testing may be omitted upon request when sample is submitted for testing.
Additional information Used for normally sterile fluids except blood, urine or CSF, e.g., joint, pericardial, peritoneal, pleural or vitreous.

Includes Aerobic & Anaerobic cultures and gram stain.
LOINC code 611-4
Last Updated 10/5/2011 1:22:47 PM
Entry Number 87

If you have additional questions regarding this test, please call: 415-353-1667

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