Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus (VRE) Culture
Also known as: MC VRE
Use
This test is used for screening culture to identify vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) bacteria. It is an essential test for determining the presence of VRE, which are significant due to their resistance to vancomycin, a last-resort antibiotic. Detecting VRE is crucial in hospital settings to prevent and control the spread of these resistant organisms.
Special Instructions
This test is not intended for screening donor material. The identification of Enterococcus species exhibiting vancomycin resistance is billed separately from the culture. Specimens should be collected using a rectal swab and transported in bacterial transport media.
Limitations
Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus (VRE) Culture may not detect organisms that grow poorly or not at all under the conditions used. False negatives can occur if VRE are present in low numbers or if swab collection does not capture the bacteria. Furthermore, identification methods such as MALDI-TOF and phenotypic tests may not detect all variants of vancomycin resistance.
New York Approved
Methodology
Culture-based
Biomarkers
LOINC Codes
- 13316-5
Result Turnaround Time
1-4 days
Related Documents
For more information, please review the documents below
Specimen
Rectal Swab
Volume
Not provided
Minimum Volume
Not provided
Container
bacterial transport media
Causes for Rejection
None specified
Stability Requirements
| Temperature | Period |
|---|---|
| Room Temperature | 24 hours |
| Refrigerated | 72 hours |
| Frozen | Unacceptable |