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Test Code LAB228 Culture, Throat

Important Note

  • Sources required on patient label and in order.
  • Identification and susceptibility tests are billed separately from culture.
  • **This culture should only be utilized after a Strep-A PCR negative result and a bacterial pathogen is still suspected.
Infectious

Additional Codes

Sunquest: CTHROA

Collection

Patient Preparation:

  1. Depress tongue gently with tongue depressor.
  2. Extend sterile swab between the tonsillar pillars and behind the uvula. Avoid touching the cheeks, tongue, uvula, or lips.
  3. To obtain sample, sweep the swab back and forth across the posterior pharynx, tonsillar areas, and any inflamed or ulcerated areas.

Specimen Type:

Oropharyngeal (throat) swab in Copan eSwab.

Minimum Volume:

eSwab: entire swab

Reject Due To:

Non-sterile container or does not meet collection, storage, or transport requirements.

 

Stability

Ambient: 48 hours

Refrigerated: 48 hours

Frozen: Unacceptable

Reference Range

Culture Dependent

Methodology

Standard bacterial culture and identification.

Performing Laboratory

UnityPoint Health Pathology Laboratory Ankeny, IA

Days Performed:

               Setup Sunday-Saturday (Cultures read on day shift only.)

Analytical Time:

2 days

CPT Codes

Culture- 87081