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Test Code CTCULT Catheter Tip Culture

Important Note

This is for inpatient testing only

Infectious

Performing Laboratory

YRMC, Microbiology

Day(s) Test Set Up

Monday through Sunday

 

Cultures are finaled after 48 hours of incubation.

Specimen Requirements

Specimen source is required.

 

Vascular device list acceptable for semi-quantitative culture:

  1. CVP (central venous pressure)
  2. Hickman catheter (1.6 diameter IV to heart)
  3. Broviac catheter (1.0 diameter IV to heart)
  4. PICC line
  5. Arterial line
  6. Umbilical catheter (UAC or UVC)
  7. Groshong catheter
  8. Swan Ganz (IV to heart to measure cardiac pressure)

 

Miscellaneous catheters - (generally not acceptable for semi-quantitative culture).

  1. Peritoneal dialysis catheter
  2. Tenckhoff catheter (permanent type of dialysis catheter)
  3. Trocar catheter (temporary type of dialysis catheter)
  4. HemoVac Tip (used for draining incision or wound sites)

 

Catheters or related devices unacceptable for culture:

  1. Urinary catheter tip (Foley)
  2. IVP catheter tip (used for temporary injection of dye)
  3. J-wire (used to insert IV catheters)

Specimen Transport Temperature

Ambient.

Specimen should arrive in laboratory within 2 hours of collection.

Reference Values

No growth after 48 hours of incubation

Test Classification and CPT Coding

87070 – Culture

Additional charges and CPT codes may be added.

Collection Instructions

The skin around the infection site should be cleaned with alcohol to reduce contamination of skin flora and to remove any antimicrobial ointment.  The cannula is removed after the alcohol dries.  The segments are cut (Length: ~ 5 cm) with sterile scissors and placed aseptically in a sterile transport cup to be sent to the lab for culture.

Methodology

Semi-quantitative culture.

Loinc Code

634-6