Anaerobe Culture




Test Mnemonic

ANACUL

CPT Codes

  • 87075 - QTY (1)

LOINC ®

635-3

Performing Laboratory

Cleveland Clinic Laboratories


Specimen Requirements

Volume Type Container Collect Temperature Transport Temperature Special Instructions
0.5 mL - 10 mLFluid, bodySterile container AmbientAcceptable alternate collection device: eSwab collection and transport system (Copan -Oracle #1616419). Collection with eSwab is acceptable if fluid or tissue cannot be collected.

Alternate Specimen Requirements

Volume Type Container Collect Temperature Transport Temperature Special Instructions
UnspecifiedBiopsySterile container Ambient 
UnspecifiedTissue, surgicalSterile container Ambient 

Minimum Specimen Requirements

Volume Type Container Collect Temperature Transport Temperature Special Instructions
0.5 mL     

Stability

Environmental Condition Description
Ambient24 hours
RefrigeratedUnacceptable
FrozenUnacceptable

Days Performed

Mon - Fri

Turnaround Time

5 - 10 days

Methodology

Name Description
Culture 

Reference Range

Anaerobe Culture
Sex Age From Age To Type Range Range Unit
       Negative for anaerobes 
Gram Stain
Sex Age From Age To Type Range Range Unit
~      No organisms seen 

Special Info

Aerobic culture and gram stain requires a separate order (e.g. WCUL, TISCUL, BFCUL, CSFCUL). Submit tissue or aspirates. Swabs are suboptimal and will be rejected, unless collected using the eSwab collection and transport system (Lawson #400562). Transport tissue specimens in a BBL Port-A-Cul Jar (Lawson #118399). A sterile container may be used for tissue if transported to the microbiology lab immediately (add drops of sterile saline to keep small pieces of tissue moist). Fluid collections should be aspirated through disinfected tissue or skin. Transport fluid specimens in a Copan eSwab collection and transport system or a Remel anaerobic transport medium (Lawson #417569). Anaerobic cultures are routinely held 5 days. Incubation will be extended to 10 days if order includes a request to rule out Actinomyces spp. or Propionibacterium acnes. If culture is positive, identification will be performed on clinically significant organisms at an additional charge. Identification CPT codes that may apply include:87076, 87077, 87106, 87107, 87153, 87158. Antimicrobial susceptibilities are performed on pure culture isolates of anaerobic bacteria or upon request, and the following CPT codes may apply:87181, 87184, 87185, 87186.

Clinical Info

Specimens from mucosal surfaces which have anaerobic bacteria as normal flora should not be submitted for anaerobic culture. These specimens will routinely be rejected: throat or nasopharangeal swabs, oral surface swabs, sputum, tracheal aspirates, bronchial washings, voided or catheterized urine, gastric and small bowel contents, feces, rectal swabs, cervical or vaginal swabs. Only swabs collected with eSwab collection and transport system are acceptable for anaerobic culture.