Sign in →

Order Code Cult Anaerobic Culture Anaerobic

Infectious

Additional Codes

Epic Order ID LAB233IA

Sub activity Type

Microbiology

Specimen Type

  • Anaerobic culturette (swab)
  • Port-a-Cult vial (aspirated specimens)
  • Fluid specimens aspirated by needle and syringe may be transported directly provided that all air is expelled from the syringe, the needle is removed, and the specimen is delivered to the lab within 30 minutes of collection. 

 

Swabs must be delivered to lab within 48 hours. Keep at room temperature.

 

Port-a-Cult must be delivered to lab within 72 hours. Keep at room temperature.

 

Unacceptable specimens include throat and nasopharyngeal swabs, sputum specimens, feces or rectal swabs, voided or catheterized urine, vaginal swabs, specimens from sites that are contaminated with intestinal contents, specimens collected from superficial wounds.

Clinical Information

Clinical indications that an anaerobe is possibly responsible for infections include but are not limited to:

  • Foul-smelling discharge
  • Location of infection in proximity to a mucosal surface
  • Necrotic tissue, gangrene, pseudomembrane formation
  • Gas in tissues or discharges
  • Endocarditis with negative routine blood cultures
  • Infection associated with malignancy or other process producing tissue destruction and that associated with impaired circulation
  • Infection related to the use of aminoglycosides
  • Septic thrombophlebitis
  • Bacteremic picture with jaundice
  • Infection following human or other bites
  • Black discoloration of blood-containing exudates
  • Presence of "sulfur granules" in discharges
  • Clinical features of gas gangrene
  • Clinical setting suggestive of anaerobic infection (septic abortion, infection following GI surgery, etc)

Related Tests