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Test Code IGNC Internal Genital Culture & Stain

Important Note

Anaerobic culture is recommended for amniotic fluid. See Anaerobe/Aerobe culture (ANAC).

Infectious

Specimen and Container/Tube

Specimen Type: 

  • Amniotic fluid 
  • Bartholin gland abscess
  • Cul-de-sac
  • Endometrium
  • Uterus
  • Ovaries
  • Fallopian tubes
  • Intrauterine device (IUD)
  • Products of Conception, which include:
    • Fetal tissue
    • Placenta
    • Lochia
  • Prostatic fluid
  • Seminal fluid
  • Scrotal fluid

Preferred Specimen: Sterile, sealable, screw-cap container or rubber-capped syringe

Other Acceptable specimens: Transport swab

Volume

Preferred Volume: 

Amniotic fluid: 10 mL (uncontaminated)

Bartholin gland abscess: 0.5 mL

Prostatic, seminal, scrotal fluid: 0.5 mL

 

Specimen Stability

Storage Temperature

Stability

Room temperature

(20 - 25°C)

 24 hours

Refrigerated

(2 - 10°C)

 not acceptable

Frozen

(-20°C)

not acceptable

Collection Instructions

Specimen Collection: 

 

Amniotic fluid: Pressure catheter, amniocentesis, or aspirations with syringe at Caesarean section

 

Bartholin gland abscess: Decontaminate skin with iodine. Aspirate abscess with needle and syringe or express exudate from duct. Aspirate is prefererred.

 

Cul de sac (culdocentesis): Surgical procedure. Aspiration through posterior vaginal vault.

 

Endometrium: Wipe cervix clean of vaginal secretions and mucus. Curetting or aspiration is preferred. If swabs are to be used, insertion through a sterile tube sheath will help avoid contamination with vaginal flora.

 

Fallopian tubes/ovaries/uterine: Surgical procedure, tissue or aspirate obtained by physician.

 

Intra-uterine device (IUD): Surgical removal of IUD plus secretions.

 

Prostatic/seminal/scrotal fluid: Aspirate collected by physician.

 


Specimen Transport: Immediate

Specimen Handling and Transport Instructions

UCMC Onsite Instructions: Collect specimen per standard collection procedure and send to laboratory immediately. 

 

UCMC Offsite and UC MedLab Outreach Instructions: Collect specimen per standard collection procedure and send to laboratory immediately.

Rejection Criteria

  • Common specimen rejected situations include: incorrect specimen type, insufficient volume, incorrect collection container, missing or incomplete specimen identifiers, incorrect specimen transport, or specimens outside stability limits. 

Reference Values

 

Test

Age

Sex

Reference Range

Culture

All

All

No Growth/Normal Flora
Stain All All No organisms seen

Turnaround Time

Turnaround times are relative to the time the specimen is received in the test laboratory. 

STAT Turnaround Time: Stat smear upon request

Routine Turnaround Time: up to 3 days

Testing Schedule: Monday - Sunday

Clinical Indications

  • Aid in the diagnosis of bacterial infections.

Methodology

Conventional culture on media

CPT Codes

87070, 87205

LOINC Codes

30587070, 30687205

Synonyms/Keyword Search

CX, CX/ST, BACTERIAL CULTURE, CULTURE, INTERNAL GENITAL CULTURE

Last Review Date

04/03/2026