Acanthamoeba Culture




Test Mnemonic

AMBCUL

CPT Codes

  • 87081 - QTY (1)
  • 87015 - QTY (1)

LOINC ®

9781-6

Aliases

  • Amoeba Culture

Performing Laboratory

Cleveland Clinic Laboratories


Specimen Requirements

Volume Type Container Collect Temperature Transport Temperature Special Instructions
1 mLCerebrospinal fluid (CSF)Sterile container Ambient 

Alternate Specimen Requirements

Volume Type Container Collect Temperature Transport Temperature Special Instructions
N/ASee noteSee noteN/A Swabs are suboptimal

Stability

Environmental Condition Description
Ambient48 hours
Refrigerated24 hours
FrozenUnacceptable

Days Performed

Sun - Sat

Turnaround Time

10 days

Methodology

Name Description
Culture 

Reference Range

Acanthamoeba Culture
Sex Age From Age To Type Range Range Unit
       No Acanthamoeba isolated. 

Special Info

Samples should be collected aseptically, transferred to Page's Amoeba saline and promptly submitted to Microbiology. Page's saline stores at ambient temperature and is available through the department of Microbiology (X41092). Specimens should not be frozen. Formalinized tissue will be rejected.

Clinical Info

Test includes culture for free living amebae including Acanthamoeba and Naegleria fowleri. Culture will not detect Balamuthia sp. Diseases caused by free living amebae include keratitis often from infected contact lens or cleaning solution. Naegleria infection may occur from exposure to contaminated fresh waters. The organism can gain entry to the central nervous system and progress to meningitis.