8020 Routine Aerobic Culture

Specimen Type Specimen Stability Reference Range
Any source BBL Culture swab maintains viability for 24-48 hours. For Fastidious bacteria, viable for 24 hours (Ex. Neisseria and Strep. pneumo.) See Report

Specimen Requirements

Amies or Stuart’s culture swab; Specimen in sterile container
Specimen Type:Any source

Method

Bacterial culture, aerobic, which includes routine isolation and identification procedures. Antibiotic susceptibility testing is performed when appropriate.

Schedule

Daily

Clinical Utility

By plating specimens from patients with clinical symptoms onto selective media, it is possible to identify the etiologic causes of infections.

CPT Codes

87070 If culture is positive, identification and susceptibility (if appropriate) will be performed at an additional charge.