MICROBIOLOGY INPATIENT CULTURE ORDERS:

  1. The Micro Spec Site-Culture code for a micro culture test describes the general specimen description for the ordered culture.  Refer to the HELP screen for appropriate codes available.  Only codes may be entered at this prompt.
  2. It may be necessary to describe the specimen in more detail than was possible in Micro Spec Site-Culture.  Further description of the specimen may be done in Micro Spec Rmrk-Culture field.  This field will appear only on Micro culture orders.  Refer to Specimen Description Codes for Cultures list for the appropriate code.  The list of specimen description codes includes descriptions such as left, right, upper, lower.  More than one code may be entered, separated by hyphens.  If the appropriate code is not on the list, type the appropriate test. 

    A combination of codes and typed text may also be used, separating the code from the free text with a hyphen.

    Examples:
    1. The specimen is from the upper left leg:
      Micro Spec Site-Culture:  LEG
      Micro Spec Rmrk-Culture:  UPP-LEFT  (2 codes)
    2. The specimen is from an abdominal incision:
      Micro Spec Site-Culture:  INCI
      Micro Spec Rmrk-Culture:  ABD   (1 code)
    3. The specimen is from the right 3rd finger:
      Micro Spec Site-Culture:  FING
      Micro Spec Rmrk-Culture:  RT-3rd  (1 code and free text)
       
  3. It is very important for the Microbiology personnel to be notified of any recent or current antimicrobial therapy the patient has received.  Type the antibiotic name(s) in the Micro Spec Rmrk Culture field, using hyphens to separate it from any other entries in this field.  If the physician has requested that a specific antibiotic be tested, note this in the same field.
     
  4. After Culture name:  Collected, RN  enter the collection time and name of person who collected the culture.  This field will have different prompts for different types of cultures.  Enter data as prompted.
     
  5. Blood Culture, Blood Culture Acid Fast Organisms and Blood Culture/Fungus must be ordered with a priority of 7 and a specified collection time entered
     
  6. Questions about entry of specimen descriptions or antibiotic comments may be directed to the Microbiology Department (422-7494).

 

Microbiology Specimen Site Codes List for Cultures

AAA

Abd Aoric Aneurysm

 

CST

Cyst Fluid

 

LGWP

Large Whirl Pool

 

RIB

Rib

ABO

Abdomen

 

DECB

Decubitus

 

LRNX

Larynx

 

RT

Right

ABSC

Abscess

 

DIAL

Dialysate

 

LTRL

Lateral

 

SAL

Salivary

AMIN

Amniotic Fluid

 

DSC

Disc

 

LEFT

Left

 

SCAL

Scalp

ANAL

Anal

 

DSTL

Distal

 

LEG

Leg

 

SCRP

Scraping

ANKL

Ankle

 

DRNG

Drainage

 

LESN

Lesion

 

SCRT

Scrotum

ANVN

Antecubital Vein

 

DUOD

Duodenal Fluid

 

LIP

Lip

 

SEMN

Semen

ANT

Anterior

 

ENTR

E.T. (Endotracheal)

 

LIVER

Liver

 

SHOL

Shoulder

AORT

Aorta

 

EAR

Ear

 

LBOY

Lo Boy

 

SIN

Sinus

APDX

Appendix

 

ELBO

Elbow

 

LOBE

Lobe

 

SKIN

Skin

ARM

Arm

 

ENDC

Endocervical

 

LOCH

Lochia

 

SWMP

Small Whirl Pool

ARLI

Arterial Line

 

ENDM

Endometrial

 

LOW

Low

 

SPLN

Spleen

ASCT

Ascitic Fluid

 

EPDD

Epididymis

 

LUNG

Lung

 

SPUT

Sputum

ASP

Aspirate

 

ESPH

Esophagus

 

LN

Lymph Node

 

STRN

Sternum

ATR

Atrium

 

EXNL

External

 

MAND

Mandible

 

SMA

Stoma

AUTP

Autopsy

 

EYE

Eye

 

M

Mass

 

STOM

Stomach

AXIL

Axilla

 

FACL

Facial

 

MAST

Mastoid

 

STOL

Stool

BACK

Back

 

FLTB

Fallopian Tube

 

MAX

Maxilla

 

SCLV

Subclavian

Bart

Bartholin

 

FEM

Femoral

 

MAXI

Maxillary

 

SUBM

Submandibular

BILE

Bile

 

FEMR

Femur

 

MEDI

Medialstinal

 

SUPR

Superior

BX

Biopsy

 

FING

Finger

 

MDL

Middle

 

SURN

Suprapubic Urine

BLAD

Bladder

 

FLUD

Fluid

 

MURN

Midstream Urine

 

SWGZ

Swan Gaz

BLUD

Blood

 

FOOT

Foot

 

MOUT

Mouth

 

SYNV

Synovial

BLDY

Bloody

 

FORE

Foreman

 

NAIL

Nail

 

SYN

Synovial Fluid

BONE

Bone

 

FBOD

Foreign Body

 

NASL

Nasal

 

TTUB

T/Tube

BMAR

Bone Marrow

 

GBLA

Gallbladder

 

NASO

Nasopharnyx

 

TST

Testicle

BOWL

Bowel Contents

 

GAST

Gastric

 

NECK

Neck

 

THIG

Thigh

BRN

Brain

 

GASD

Gastric Drainage

 

NASP

Needle Aspirate

 

THOR

Thoracic

BRST

Breast

 

GEN

Genital

 

NRNS

Needle Rinse

 

THRT

Throat Swab

LAV

Bronchial Alv. Lavage

 

GRAF

Graftsite

 

NURN

Nephrostomy Urine

 

THUM

Thumb

BCHB

Bronch Brush

 

GRT

Great

 

NOSE

Nose

 

TIB

Tibia

BPSP

Bronchial (PSB)

 

GOIN

Groin

 

OCAV

Oral Cavity

 

TISU

Tissue

BBSY

Bronchial Biopsy

 

GROS

Grossing

 

OMUC

Oral Mucosa

 

TOE

Toe

BRON

Bronchial Brushings

 

GRS

Grossly

 

OTH

Other

 

TONG

Tongue

RINS

Brush Rinse

 

HAIR

Hair

 

OUTR

Outer

 

TONS

Tonsil

BRH

Brushing

 

HAND

Hand

 

PACE

Pacemaker

 

TOOT

Tooth

BRSA

Bursa

 

HEAD

Head

 

PAN

Pancreatic Fluid

 

TPN

TPN Solution

BUTT

Buttocks

 

HART

Heart

 

PRCT

Paracentesis

 

TCHE

Tracheal

CALF

Calf

 

HEEL

Heel

 

PARD

Parotid

 

TASP

Tracheal Aspirate

CPSL

Capsule

 

HICK

Hickman Catheter

 

PELV

Pelvis

 

TRAC

Tracheostomy Site

CURN

Catheterized Urine

 

HIP

Hip

 

PENI

Penis

 

TTRA

Transtracheal Aspirate

CTIP

Catheter Tip

 

HTNK

Hubbard Tank

 

PERI

Pericardial Fluid

 

TRAP

Trap

CVTY

Cavity

 

INCI

Incision

 

PERN

Perineal

 

TL

Triple Lumen

CELL

Cellulitis

 

INDX

Index

 

PERR

Perirectal

 

TTB

Tube

CENL

Central Line

 

DUCE

Induced

 

PRTN

Peritoneal

 

ULCR

Ulcer

CSF

Cerebrospinal Fluid

 

INNR

Inner

 

PERT

Peritoneal Fluid

 

UMBL

Umbilicus

CERV

Cervix

 

ISIT

Insertion Site

 

PETO

Peritonsillar

 

UPP

Upper

CHEK

Cheek

 

INTL

Internal

 

PERM

Perm Catheter

 

URET

Ureter

CHST

Chest

 

INOR

Intraocular

 

PILO

Pilonidal

 

URTH

Urethra

CTUB

Chest Tube

 

IU

Intrauterine Device

 

PLAC

Placenta

 

UTER

Uterus

COCX

Coccyx

 

IVST

IV Site

 

PLAQ

Plaque

 

VAG

Vagina

COLN

Colon

 

JP

Jackson Pratt

 

PLEU

Pleural Fluid

 

VAD

Vascular Access Device

COLS

Colostomy Site

 

JONT

Joint

 

PWP

Portable Whirl Pool

 

VEIN

Vein

COMD

Common Duct

 

JUG

Jugular

 

POSR

Posterior

 

VERF

Vertebral Fluid

CORS

Corneal Scrapings

 

KID

Kidney

 

PRST

Prostate

 

VCOR

Vocal Cord

CULD

Culdesac

 

KNEE

Knee

 

RECT

Rectal

 

VUL

Vulva

CYT

Cyst

 

LABA

Labia

 

RENL

Renal

     

Other Microbiology Codes for Cultures

BCB

Received in blood culture bottles

 

NSWB

No swab received in transporter

CTTE

Specimen received in culturette (or on swabs)

 

NTRN

Not transported anaerobically

DIAP

Specimen obtained from a diaper

 

POL

Specimen pooled together from:

ENMA

Patient had and enema previous to collection

 

PSTH

Specimen found in surgery pass through

FEXP

Transporter media expired: (time)

 

RN1

Run on 1 specimen

FIC

Fluid injected into culturette

 

SEC

2 nd specimen

FILL

Preservative/container improperly filled

 

SINC

Specimen inoculated

H2O

Water

 

SPRG

Specimen refrigerated

ICE

Specimen not received on ice

 

SROP

Specimen received on plates

INCH

Specimen longer then 2 inches

 

STLP

Stool preservative not mixed thoroughly

LIT

Too little specimen added to preservative

 

TRPN

Transported improperly

MUCH

Too much specimen added to preservative

 

TVOL

Total volume spun:

NCRS

Culturette amplue not crushed

 

WSWB

Wooden swab may inhibit HSV replication

NOT

Consistency not indicated

 

WRST

Wrist

 

 

POWERCHART NAME AFB CULTURE OTHER
MERCY TEST NAME ACID FAST CLT/SMR*  MERCY LAB CODE
AFBCLT

Comment: 

Specify collection site when ordering. See pg 1-2 for ordering help and codes.

Specimen: 

Submit each specimen in a sterile container with a tight fitting lid.

  • Body fluids:  Minimum of 5 ml specimen.
  • Bronchus washings/brushings:  Minimum of 5 ml bronchus washings/brushings.
  • Cerebrospinal fluid:  1 ml CSF minimum in a sterile plastic screw cap tube.
  • Gastric washings:  1 ml specimen minimum.
  • Sputum:  Minimum of 5 ml specimen.  A first morning specimen is recommended.
  • Stool:  Submit a pea size sample.  No preservative.
  • Tissue:  Submit a pea size sample. Can be placed in a small amount of saline to prevent drying out.
  • Urine:  Minimum of 50 ml of urine. The first morning specimen is recommended. 
  • Bone Marrow: Send using lithium heparin tubes.

Cause for rejection:

Serum is submitted for testing.

Processing:

  • Send to the laboratory immediately after collection.
  • Specimens are referred to Mayo Medical Laboratories, Rochester, MN for an AFB smear and culture.

Performed:

Smear:  Monday through Sunday. Mayo will contact Mercy Lab if positive.
Final:  8 weeks. Mayo will notify Mercy Lab if culture is positive prior to 8 weeks.

If tissue is submitted for testing, an additional charge will be assessed for processing.

If a bacteremia due to mycobacterium is suspected, see BLOOD CULTURE/ACID FAST ORGANISMS

Reference values:

AFB smear: No acid fast organisms seen.
                 If the smear is positive: Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Amplified Direct
                                                        Test is available at an additional charge.
AFB culture: No acid fast organisms isolated.
                  If the culture is positive for Mycobacterium: Antimicrobial
                             Susceptibility testing is available at an additional charge.
                             This testing has to be requested by the ordering location or
                             provider.

Method:

AFB smear: Auramine-Rhodamine Stain
AFB culture: Automated Detection plus 7H10-11 agar
Identification of AFB isolates by rapid methods: Nucleic Acid Probes, DNA Sequencing
                                                                    and Real-Time PCR, when appropriate.

CPT Code:

87206- Smear

87116- Culture, Mycobacterium

87149- Identification of Mycobacteria by nucleic acid probe (if appropriate)

87158- Identification of Mycobacteria by other methods (if appropriate)

87176- Tissue Processing (if appropriate)


TEST NAME

AEROBIC CULTURE/GRAM STAIN

Cultures are listed according to collection site.
Order according to the source of the specimen.
If there is no culture for the specific source, then order according to the type of culture, i.e.: body fluid, wound, etc.


POWERCHART NAME

ANAEROBIC CULTURE + SMEAR

MERCY TEST NAME

ANAEROBIC CLT/GS

MERCY LAB CODE

ANER

Specimen:

DO NOT USE AEROBIC TRANSPORTER!

A Port-A-Cul Cary Blair tube or Port-A-Cul anaerobic transport vial should be used.  Both transport systems contain an indicator which will turn purple when oxygen is present.  DO NOT USE the transporter if the indicator is purple prior to opening the transporter.

Swab specimens: Imbed swab deeply into Port-A-Cul Cary Blair tube and cap tightly. Two swabs from the same specimen site should be submitted in one transport tube.

Fluid or pus aspirates:  Inject specimen into Port-A-Cul vials. DO NOT inject air into vial.

Listing of acceptable and unacceptable specimens:

ACCEPTABLE specimens for anaerobic culture

 
  1. Exudates or aspirated pus from deep wounds/abscesses
  2. Surgical specimens
  3. Normally sterile body fluids
  4. Transtracheal aspirates
  5. Suprapubic urines from:
    1. Percutaneous bladder aspiration
    2. Nephrostomy tubes
    3. Suprapubic catheter
  6. Genital specimens ONLY as follows:
    1. Cul de sac aspiration
    2. Culdocentesis
UNACCEPTABLE specimens for anaerobic culture:
 
  1. Superficial wounds
  2. Specimens contaminated with intestinal flora ‑such as intestinal contents, colostomy sites, drainage from a pilonidal sinus, or bowel perforations.
  3. Feces/rectal swabs
  4. Throat/nasopharyngeal swabs
  5. Sputum/bronchoscopic specimens
  6. Vaginal/cervical swabs
  7. Midstream or catheterized urine specimens
Comments:
  1. Specify collection site when ordering. 
    See pg 1-2 for ordering help and site codes.
  2. Specimens will be processed according to site.  Only predominant anaerobes will be reported from cultures contaminated with oral, genital, or intestinal flora.
  3. Identification to genus and species will only be performed on isolates from blood, CSF and other normally sterile body fluids.
  4. Anaerobic susceptibility testing will not be performed. Anaerobic isolates may be referred to Mayo Laboratories, Rochester, MN for susceptibility testing upon special request.  Contact the Mercy Microbiology Lab for information.
Performed: Gram stain: Within 8 hours of receipt.
Preliminary report:  2 - 4 days
Final report:  7 days
Reference values: No anaerobes isolated (applies to normally sterile body sites).  Varies with site of collection.
Method: Standard culture techniques.
CPT Code: 87205 Gram Stain+
87075 Anaerobic Clt+

POWERCHART NAME

BACTERIAL ANTIGENS CSF NEONATAL (< 1 week of age)

SEE: GBSAG

POWERCHART NAME

BACTERIAL ANTIGENS CSF PEDIATRIC (1 week to 17 years)

SEE: BACTAG

POWERCHART NAME

BACTERIAL ANTIGENS CSF ADULT (18 years and older)

SEE: BACTAG

POWERCHART NAME

BACTERIAL ANTIGENS URINE NEONATAL (< 1 week of age)

Test no longer available.

POWERCHART NAME

BACTERIAL ANTIGENS URINE PEDIATRIC (1 week to 17 years)

Test no longer available.

POWERCHART NAME

BACTERIAL ANTIGENS  URINE ADULT (18 years and older)

Test no longer available.

TEST NAME

BACTERIAL CULTURE

See: Cultures are listed according to collection site.
Order according to the source of the specimen.
If there is no culture for the specific source, then order according to the type of culture, i.e.: body fluid, wound, etc.


TEST NAME

BACTERIAL MENINGITIS ANTIGENS
(CSF AND URINE):

See:  Bacterial Antigens based on common agents of meningitis for certain age groups and the site of the specimen.


POWERCHART NAME