IMPORTANT! Pre-approval needed from state or local health department. Local or State Health Department. Send approval to
NPHL@unmc.edu or call (402) 559-9444.
NPHL has moved to an electronic ordering system, NUlirt, and it is now the preferred method to order all tests. Once ordered, print a "batch list" (see
NUlirt Guide).
Forms Required - Nulirt batch list or NPHL Test Request Form (completed in entirety) must accompany the specimen to include the following information: symptoms and date of onset, pregnancy status, travel and vaccine history. Testing
will not be performed without all required information.
Please call NPHL Client Services at (402) 559-2440 or toll free at (800) 334-0459 for further clarification.
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| Test: |
Culture, Anaerobic and Aerobic with Gram Stain |
| Synonym: |
Abscess Culture, Wound Culture, Anaerobic Culture |
| Method: |
Standard reference procedures for gram stain, aerobic culture, anaerobic culture, and identification of potential pathogen; susceptibility performed when indicated |
| Availability: |
Daily; preliminary report at 1 day and final report at 5 days for anaerobes. Cultures showing no bacterial growth will be reported after 24 hours. |
| Specimen: |
Pus tissue, or other material properly obtained from an abscess, biopsy, aspirate, drainage, exudate, lesion, or wound |
| Collection Device: |
One anaerobic culturette and two aerobic culturettes or 0.5 mL pus or other fluid from aspirated site in syringe with needle removed and replaced with a cap. Some anaerobes will be destroyed by contact with oxygen for only a few seconds. Overlying and adjacent areas of the wound/abscess must be carefully disinfected to eliminate contamination with normal aerobic flora. Sampling of open lesions is enhanced by deep aspiration using a sterile catheter. Curettings of the base of an open lesion are optimal. If irrigation is necessary, sterile normal saline may be used. |
| Volume: |
0.5 mL for fluid |
| Storage/Transport: |
Ambient; ideally, pus or other fluid obtained by needle aspiration are transported to the lab as soon as possible in a capped syringe |
| Unacceptable: |
Specimens which have been refrigerated or are not received in an anaerobic transport swab or closed syringe, specimens from sites which have anaerobic bacteria as normal flora (throat, feces, colostomy sites, rectal swabs, bronchial washes, cervical-vaginal mucosal swabs, sputum, skin and superficial wounds, voided or catheterized urine, and decubitus ulcer), nonsterile or leaking containers, dry swabs, dry material, and syringes with needles attached. |
| Specimen Stability: |
Specimens are stable at ambient but should be sent to the lab ASAP |
| Reference Interval: |
No aerobic or anaerobic growth |
| Reportable Disease: |
|
| Comments: |
Note suspected organism(s) on the test request form. Culture of specimens from sites harboring endogenous anaerobic organisms or contaminated by endogenous organisms may be misleading with regard to etiology and appropriate therapy. Organism identification is performed when clinically-relevant organisms are suspected. Antimicrobial susceptibilities are performed on clinically-relevant isolates when appropriate, following methods recommended by CLSI. Call laboratory for a list of routine susceptibility panels. |
| Revised: |
7/7/2011 |
If you have questions about proper specimen collection, please call
NPHL Client Services at (402) 559-2440 or toll free at (800) 334-0459.
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