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 mL | Fluid, body | Anaerobic vial | Ambient | Anaerobic transport medium (Remel - Lawson #417569). Acceptable alternate collection device: eSwab collection and transport system (Copan - Lawson #400562). Collection with eSwab is acceptable if fluid or tissue cannot be collected. |
Alternate Specimen Requirements
| Volume | Type | Container | Collect Temperature | Transport Temperature | Special Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unspecified | Biopsy | Anaerobic vial | Ambient | The preferred container type is an Anaerobic Jar (BBL Port-A-Cul Jar Lawson #118399) | |
| Unspecified | Tissue, surgical | Anaerobic vial | Ambient | The preferred container type is an Anaerobic Jar (BBL Port-A-Cul Jar Lawson #118399) |
Minimum Specimen Requirements
| Volume | Type | Container | Collect Temperature | Transport Temperature | Special Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 mL |
Stability
| Environmental Condition | Description |
|---|---|
| Ambient | 24 hours |
| Refrigerated | Unacceptable |
| Frozen | Unacceptable |
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.