Culture, Sputum/Lower Respiratory
Test code
CPT code(s)*
Test resources
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Details
Includes
Aerobic culture and Gram stain
If culture is positive, identification will be performed at an additional charge (CPT code(s): 87077 or 87140 or 87143 or 87147 or 87149).
Antibiotic susceptibilities are only performed when appropriate (CPT code(s): 87181 or 87184 or 87185 or 87186).
Methodology
Aerobic bacterial culture. Includes gram stain evaluation of specimen, routine isolation and identification procedures.
Antibiotic susceptibility testing when appropriate.
Alternative name(s)
Respiratory Culture,Lower Respiratory,Sputum Bacterial Culture
Specimen requirements | |
|---|---|
| Patient preparation | None Specified |
| Preferred specimen(s) | 3-5 mL sputum |
| Alternative specimen(s) | 5-10 mL bronchial wash or tracheal aspiration |
| Collection instructions | Early morning expectorated sputum from deep cough |
| Transport container | Sterile leak-proof screw-cap container |
| Transport temperature | Refrigerated (cold packs) |
| Specimen stability | Deliver to the Microbiology lab ASAP Room temperature: 2 hours maximum, then refrigerate ASAP Refrigerated: 24 hours Frozen: Unacceptable |
| Reject criteria | Any specimen >48 hours old • 24-hour pooled sputum • Sputum received for anaerobic culture • Room temperature specimens 2 hours or older • Specimens which have leaked and contaminated the outside of the collection container • Sputum specimens with >25 epithelial cells per low power field • Received frozen Refrigerated specimens older than 24 hours but less than 48 hours old may be processed only after contacting the client and informing them that the results may be compromised. If they still desire the specimen cultured, medical director approval must be obtained and documented. |
Reference ranges are provided as general guidance only. To interpret test results use the reference range in the laboratory report.
*The CPT codes provided are based on AMA guidance and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payer being billed.
This material contains content from LOINC® (http://loinc.org). The LOINC Table, LOINC Table Core are copyright © 1995-2019, Regenstrief Institute, Inc. and the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) Committee and is available at no cost under the license at http://loinc.org/license.
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