Fungal Culture and Smear (Non Dermal)




Test Mnemonic

FCULSM

CPT Codes

  • 87206 - QTY (1)
  • 87102 - QTY (1)

Aliases

  • Fungus Culture and Calofluor White Stain
  • Fungus Culture and KOH Prep
  • Fungus Culture and KOH Preparation

Performing Laboratory

Cleveland Clinic Laboratories


Specimen Requirements

Volume Type Container Collect Temperature Transport Temperature Special Instructions
3 mLAspirate, gastricSterile container Ambient 
3 mLSputumSterile container AmbientUndiluted first morning sputum or induced sputum. Patient Preparation: Remove dentures, rinse mouth with water.
50 mLFluid, bodySterile container AmbientAspiration site must be sterilely prepared.
UnspecifiedAspirate, surgicalSterile container AmbientAspiration site must be sterilely prepared.
UnspecifiedTissue, surgicalSterile container AmbientSurgical specimen in sterile container with 0.5 mL sterile saline or sterile water. The portion of the surgical specimen for fungal culture should be sterilely separated from the portion sent to Surgical Pathology.
UnspecifiedSee noteSwab, culturette AmbientOf surgical area. Site must be sterilely prepared.

Stability

Environmental Condition Description
Ambient72 hours
Refrigerated72 hours
FrozenUnacceptable

Days Performed

Sun - Sat

Turnaround Time

6 weeks

Methodology

Name Description
Culture 
Stain 

Reference Range

Fungal Culture
Sex Age From Age To Type Range Range Unit
       No fungal growth 
Fungal Smear
Sex Age From Age To Type Range Range Unit
       No fungus seen 

Special Info

Test includes culture for yeasts and molds plus microscopic examination using calcofluor stain. Full identification will be performed routinely on significant yeast isolates. Limited identification is performed on nonsterile sites. In-house susceptibility testing on yeast isolates is performed only upon request and only when clinically indicated. Mold identification will be performed on significant isolates. Mold susceptibilities are not performed in-house and will be sent to an outside reference lab upon request only. Note any special requests such as rule out Malassezia furfur on the requisition. For hair, skin and nail sources, please use order code ACFSC for culture requests and order code FHSHSM when requesting both fungal culture and smear. If culture is positive for yeast or mold, identification will be performed as mentioned above at an additional charge. Identification CPT codes that may apply include: 87106, 87107, 87153, 87206. Antimicrobial susceptibilities are performed as mentioned above, and CPT code 87186 would apply.

Clinical Info

Order Fungal Culture and Smear to rule out fungal infection and identify the causative agent(s). A single negative culture does not rule out the presence of fungal infection.