Abscess Culture, Anaerobic

CERNER / EPIC MNEMONIC: C ANAEROBE

POE DESCRIPTION: C ANAEROBE; CU ANAEROBIC

CPT CODE: 87075

TEST INFORMATION: Test includes culture for anaerobic organisms. Other isolated organisms (i.e. aerobes, yeast, etc.) may be referred for identification and/or susceptibility testing if medically indicated AND a separate culture procedure has NOT yielded the same organism(s).

DAYS PERFORMED: Daily, 24 hours

TURNAROUND TIME: Cultures are examined every 48 hours. Preliminary reports are available after 48 hours. Culture reports of no growth will be issued after 5 days. Completion of culture reports may take 7-10 days after receipt of the specimen, depending upon the nature of the microorganisms isolated.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: Avoid exposure to atmospheric oxygen. Specimens should be transported as soon as possible. When transportation is delayed, leave at room temperature. Do NOT refrigerate. The specific anatomic site of the abscess MUST be specified on the requisition with surface and/or deep or surgical abscesses delineated.

CONTAINER TYPE: BBL^TM Port-A-Cul Transport System

COLLECTION: The specimen of choice is an aspirate or tissue, NOT a swab. Specimens are to be collected from a site prepared utilizing aseptic technique. Overlying and adjacent areas must be carefully prepared to eliminate surface (normal flora) anaerobes. Ideally, material is obtained by needle aspiration through an intact surface, which has been cleaned with antiseptic, then placed directly into the BBL^TMPort-A-Cul Transport System. Sampling of open lesions is enhanced by deep aspiration using a sterile plastic catheter. Curetting of the base of an open lesion is optimal. If irrigation is necessary, nonbacteriostatic sterile saline may be used. When a syringe is used to obtain the specimen, ALL air should be expelled after which the specimen should be injected into a BBL^TM Port-A-Cul Transport System. Swabs should be used as a last resort due to the small volume of specimen obtainable by this method. If a swab must be used, sample the advancing margin of the lesion and abscess walls firmly. Do NOT sample pus or exudate ONLY. Insert the swab containing the sample about 1 cm from the bottom of the transport tube. Break off the swab shaft and secure the lid tightly. Contamination with normal flora from skin or other body sources MUST be avoided since colonizing bacteria not involved in the infectious process may be introduced into the sample.

SPECIMEN REQUIREMENTS: Aspirate, tissue, or other material appropriately obtained for anaerobic culture

REJECTION CRITERIA: Inappropriate specimen container, insufficient specimen volume, refrigerated specimen. Specimens from sites which have anaerobic bacteria as normal flora will routinely be rejected (i.e. vaginal, pharyngeal, etc.).

MINIMUM VOLUME: 0.5 mL aspirate, small piece of tissue, or one swab

HANDLING INSTRUCTIONS: Avoid exposure to atmospheric oxygen. Specimen should be transported as soon as possible. When transportation is delayed, leave at room temperature. Do NOT refrigerate.

REFERENCE RANGE: No growth of anaerobic bacteria

LIMITATIONS OF TEST: A specimen received in anaerobic transport devices is not suitable for routine fungal or mycobacterial cultures. If more than three anaerobic isolates are present, the Bacteroides fragilis group, pigmented gram-negative rods (Prevotella and/or Porphyromonas species), Actinomyces species, and Clostridium perfringens will be the only isolates identified. Anaerobic susceptibility testing is NOT performed routinely. Should susceptibility testing be required, call the laboratory at (312) 942-5452.

METHODOLOGY: Conventional culture utilizing media specifically formulated for anaerobic isolation.
TEST SYNONYM(S): Anaerobic Culture, Abscess

CERNER / EPIC MNEMONIC:	C ANAEROBE
POE DESCRIPTION:	C ANAEROBE; CU ANAEROBIC
CPT CODE:	87075
TEST INFORMATION:	Test includes culture for anaerobic organisms. Other isolated organisms (i.e. aerobes, yeast, etc.) may be referred for identification and/or susceptibility testing if medically indicated AND a separate culture procedure has NOT yielded the same organism(s).
DAYS PERFORMED:	Daily, 24 hours
TURNAROUND TIME:	Cultures are examined every 48 hours. Preliminary reports are available after 48 hours. Culture reports of no growth will be issued after 5 days. Completion of culture reports may take 7-10 days after receipt of the specimen, depending upon the nature of the microorganisms isolated.
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS:	Avoid exposure to atmospheric oxygen. Specimens should be transported as soon as possible. When transportation is delayed, leave at room temperature. Do NOT refrigerate. The specific anatomic site of the abscess MUST be specified on the requisition with surface and/or deep or surgical abscesses delineated.
CONTAINER TYPE:	BBL^TM Port-A-Cul Transport System
COLLECTION:	The specimen of choice is an aspirate or tissue, NOT a swab. Specimens are to be collected from a site prepared utilizing aseptic technique. Overlying and adjacent areas must be carefully prepared to eliminate surface (normal flora) anaerobes. Ideally, material is obtained by needle aspiration through an intact surface, which has been cleaned with antiseptic, then placed directly into the BBL^TMPort-A-Cul Transport System. Sampling of open lesions is enhanced by deep aspiration using a sterile plastic catheter. Curetting of the base of an open lesion is optimal. If irrigation is necessary, nonbacteriostatic sterile saline may be used. When a syringe is used to obtain the specimen, ALL air should be expelled after which the specimen should be injected into a BBL^TM Port-A-Cul Transport System. Swabs should be used as a last resort due to the small volume of specimen obtainable by this method. If a swab must be used, sample the advancing margin of the lesion and abscess walls firmly. Do NOT sample pus or exudate ONLY. Insert the swab containing the sample about 1 cm from the bottom of the transport tube. Break off the swab shaft and secure the lid tightly. Contamination with normal flora from skin or other body sources MUST be avoided since colonizing bacteria not involved in the infectious process may be introduced into the sample.
SPECIMEN REQUIREMENTS:	Aspirate, tissue, or other material appropriately obtained for anaerobic culture
REJECTION CRITERIA:	Inappropriate specimen container, insufficient specimen volume, refrigerated specimen. Specimens from sites which have anaerobic bacteria as normal flora will routinely be rejected (i.e. vaginal, pharyngeal, etc.).
MINIMUM VOLUME:	0.5 mL aspirate, small piece of tissue, or one swab
HANDLING INSTRUCTIONS:	Avoid exposure to atmospheric oxygen. Specimen should be transported as soon as possible. When transportation is delayed, leave at room temperature. Do NOT refrigerate.
REFERENCE RANGE:	No growth of anaerobic bacteria
LIMITATIONS OF TEST:	A specimen received in anaerobic transport devices is not suitable for routine fungal or mycobacterial cultures. If more than three anaerobic isolates are present, the Bacteroides fragilis group, pigmented gram-negative rods (Prevotella and/or Porphyromonas species), Actinomyces species, and Clostridium perfringens will be the only isolates identified. Anaerobic susceptibility testing is NOT performed routinely. Should susceptibility testing be required, call the laboratory at (312) 942-5452.
METHODOLOGY:	Conventional culture utilizing media specifically formulated for anaerobic isolation.
TEST SYNONYM(S):	Anaerobic Culture, Abscess