Staphylococcus aureus & MRSA Screen, Culture, Skin
Test Mnemonic
SANSAL
Primary CPT Codes
- 87081 - QTY (1), Culture, Presumptive Screening
Variable CPT Codes (dependent on findings)
- 87077 - QTY (1), Identification, Aerobic Isolate
LOINC ®
13317-3
Aliases
- Methicillin Resistant Staph aureus Screen
- MRSA Staph aureus Culture Screen
- Staph aureus culture
- Staph aureus screen
Performing Laboratory
Cleveland Clinic Laboratories
Specimen Requirements
| Volume | Type | Container | Collect Temperature | Transport Temperature | Special Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| One | Nasal | E Swab | Ambient | Ambient | |
| One | Rectal | E Swab | Ambient | Ambient | |
| One | Throat | E Swab | Ambient | Ambient | |
| One | Axillary | E Swab | Ambient | Ambient | |
| One | Groin | E Swab | Ambient | Ambient |
Alternate Specimen Requirements
| Volume | Type | Container | Collect Temperature | Transport Temperature | Special Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| One | Swab(s) | Swab in Amies or Stuart's media without charcoal | Ambient | Skin/Mucus Membrane |
Stability
| Environmental Condition | Description |
|---|---|
| Ambient | 48 hours |
| Refrigerated | 48 hours |
| Frozen | Unacceptable |
Days Performed
Sun - Sat
Turnaround Time
7 days
Methodology
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Culture, Identification |
Reference Range
Special Info
Additional billing is applied for identification and susceptibility testing. CPT codes vary based on methodology
Clinical Info
This screening culture detects colonization with methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin susceptible S. aureus (MSSA). An overnight broth enrichment step is included. This test should not be used to diagnose and treat infections. MRSA and MSSA screening is also available by PCR (SAPCR) for faster turnaround time but is limited to nares specimens.