Body Fluid Culture: Aerobic and Anaerobic Bacterial Culture and Gram Stain
Also known as: Culture, Body Fluid, Sterile, Routine, Sterile Body Fluid Culture
Use
Isolate and identify pathogenic organisms from normally sterile body fluids. Anaerobic culture is held for 14 days.
Special Instructions
Indicate the specific source and pertinent clinical history on the request form. Ensure not to use expired transport devices. Proper aseptic techniques need to be followed to avoid contamination with normal flora from skin, rectum, vaginal tract, or other body surfaces.
Limitations
Contamination with normal flora can lead to false-positive results, and improper labeling or use of red-top Vacutainer tubes can cause specimen rejection. Swabs without visible fluid are also not acceptable, which can limit the test's effectiveness in certain cases.
Methodology
Culture-based
Biomarkers
LOINC Codes
- 664-3
- 635-3
- 611-4
Result Turnaround Time
14-17 days
Related Documents
For more information, please review the documents below
Specimen
Body Fluid
Volume
2 mL
Minimum Volume
2 mL
Container
Sterile tube or other sterile leak-proof container, blood culture bottle, Vacutainer™ Plus no Additive tube; sodium heparin tube, and swabs with visible fluid.
Collection Instructions
Contamination with normal flora from skin, rectum, vaginal tract, or other body surfaces should be avoided.
Patient Preparation
Swab skin over the site of puncture with 2% tincture of iodine in concentric circles. Note: Iodine should remain in contact with skin for at least one minute prior to puncture to ensure complete antisepsis. Following puncture, 70% alcohol is used to remove iodine from skin.
Storage Instructions
Maintain specimen at room temperature. Specimens for anaerobic culture should be maintained at room temperature. Anaerobes will survive 24 to 72 hours when properly collected in the anaerobic transport tube.
Causes for Rejection
Improper labeling; red-top Vacutainer™ tubes; swabs without visible fluid