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HelpTest Code REC Respiratory Culture & Stain
Infectious
Specimen and Container/Tube
Specimen Type: Sputum, endotracheal aspirate, tracheal aspirate
Preferred Specimen: Sterile, sealable, screw-cap container
Volume
Minimum Volume: 1 mL (adult and pediatric)
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:
Sputum: Rinse mouth or gargle with water to remove excess oral flora. Patient must cough deeply.
Tracheal/Endotracheal aspirate: Skin is cleansed, anesthetized, and decontaminated.
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.
- Only 1 specimen per day will be accepted.
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: not available
Routine Turnaround Time: 48 hours
Testing Schedule: Monday - Sunday
Clinical Indications
- Aid in the diagnosis of bacterial infections.
Methodology
Conventional culture on media
CPT Codes
87205
LOINC Codes
30687205
Synonyms/Keyword Search
RESP.CX/ST, CX, BACTERIAL CULTURE, CULTURE
Last Review Date
03/13/2026