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Test Code GEN GENITAL CULTURE

Important Note

“Routine vaginal cultures are not performed at LHMC, due to lack of evidence-based medical indications.  The only appropriate indicators for vaginal cultures include:

a. Sexual abuse in pre-pubertal females

b. Vaginal infections in pre-pubertal females

c. Isolation of yeast for susceptibility testing in persistent fungal infections

d. Isolation of Group B Strep for susceptibility testing in penicillin allergic patients of child-bearing age

Specimens received that do not fit these criteria will be rejected.

  • For specimens from vaginal wounds or abscesses, please refer to Wound Culture with Gram Stain or Abscess Culture with Gram Stain.
  • For vaginal specimens to be screened for bacterial vaginosis, candidiasis, or trichomoniasis—please refer to Vaginosis Panel.
  • For specimens that may fit the above criteria, please provide specific details with your order/requisition to help guide testing protocols.”

Methodology

Conventional Culture Technique

This test does not include a Gram stain. If a Gram stain is desired, order GENGS “Culture, Genital, with Gram Stain.”

Specimen Requirements

Acceptable Specimens: 
Cervix, endocervical fluid, prostatic fluid, urethra, or vagina

 

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

 

Cervix or Vaginal
Container/Tube: Swab(s)
Specimen Volume: Entire specimen
Collection Instructions:

1. Do not use lubricant on speculum.
2. Remove excess mucus from cervical os and surrounding mucosa.
3. Insert specimen collection swab into endocervical canal.
4. Move swab from side-to-side. Avoid touching swab to uninfected surface.
5. Return swab to transport tube.
6. Label tube with patient’s legal name, date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.
Note: Specimen source is required.

 

Endocervical, Endometrial, or Prostatic Fluid

Container/Tube: Sterile container(s)
Specimen Volume: 2 mL of aspirated fluid

Collection Instructions: Label container with patient’s legal name, date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.

Note: Specimen source is required.

 

Urethra (Males)
Container/Tube: Swab(s)
Specimen Volume: Entire specimen
Collection Instructions:
1. Patient should not have urinated for at least 1 hour prior to specimen collection.
2. Use a mini-tip swab to collect discharge. If no discharge is present, a sterile nasopharyngeal-type swab may be used to obtain specimen from anterior urethra.
3. Insert mini-tip swab 2 cm to 4 cm into urethra.
4. Rotate swab so that it comes into contact with all urethral surfaces. Leave swab inserted 2 to 3 seconds and remove.
5. Return swab to transport tube.
6. Label tube with patient’s legal name, date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.
Note: 1. Prostatic culture is less informative than urethral culture.
2. Specimen source is required.

Day(s) Test Set Up

Monday through Sunday

Reference Values

Normal vaginal/skin flora

Critical value (automatic call-back): positive for group B streptococcus (only on a specimen from an OB patient which has been ordered “STAT”)

Performing Laboratory

Logan Health Medical Center Laboratory

Test Classification and CPT Coding

87070

Specimen Transport Temperature

Ambient/Refrigerate NO/Frozen NO