Sign in →

Test Code REC, new Respiratory Stain

Important Note

1 specimen per day. Stain only.

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. 

Reference Values

 

Test

Age

Sex

Reference Range

Stain All All Negative

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: 

Testing Schedule: Monday - Sunday

Clinical Indications

  • Aid in the diagnosis of bacterial infections.

CPT Codes

87205

LOINC Codes

30687205

Methodology

Automated Gram stain

Last Review Date

08/13/2025