| Test: | Culture, Anaerobic and Aerobic with Gram Stain Order in NUlirt or complete NPHL Test Order Form |
| Synonym: | Aerobic/Anaerobic, Wound culture |
| Method: | Test performed Daily; Preliminary report at 24h. Turn-around-time 24-72h. Complete reports of cultures with anaerobic bacteria may take as long as 5 days after receipt of culture, depending upon the nature of the organisms isolated. Final report is at 5 days. |
| Availability: | Test performed Daily; Preliminary report at 24h. Turn-around-time 24-72h. Complete reports of cultures with anaerobic bacteria may take as long as 5 days after receipt of culture, depending upon the nature of the organisms isolated. Final report is at 5 days. |
| Specimen: | One anaerobic Culturette and two aerobic Culturette tubes or 0.5 mL pus or other fluid from aspirated site in syringe with needle removed and replaced with a cap. Pus tissue, or other materia l properly obtained from an abscess, biopsy, aspirate, drainage, exudate, lesion, or wound. Body fluid; peritoneal, thoracentesis, pericardial, amniotic or culdoncenteseis fluid. Aseptically collect body fluid into a sterile container (preferred), or anaerobic vial or anaerobic culturette. 2.0 - 20.0 mL. Specimens will also be cultured for aerobic growth. 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. Ideally, pus or other fluid obtained by needle aspiration is transported to the lab as soon as possible in a capped syringe. Sampling of open lesions is enhanced by deep aspiration using a sterile catheter. Curettings of base of an open lesion are optimal. If irrigation is necessary, sterile normal saline may be used 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. Ideally, pus or other fluid obtained by needle aspiration is transported to the lab as soon as possible in a capped syringe. Sampling of open lesions is enhanced by deep aspiration using a sterile catheter. Curettings of base of an open lesion are optimal. If irrigation is necessary, sterile normal saline may be used |
| Collection Device: | One anaerobic Culturette and two aerobic Culturette tubes. Specimen Labeling: Test subject to CLIA regulations and requires 2 patient identifiers and specimen source on container. |
| Volume: | >1mL fluid |
| Storage/Transport: | Prior to and during shipment: Ambient 15-25°C Shipping instructions, including specimen-handling requirements during transport: Seal screw-top tubes with Parafilm™ or tape and place in biohazard bag with absorbent material. Place specimen inside leak proof secondary container (biohazard bag and if transporting by air, use Tyvek™ Envelope) with adsorbent material. The secondary container must be packed inside an approved Category B shipping container. Position NUlirt packing list or NPHL Test Order form between secondary container and box lid. Seal with tape. Label outer box as UN3373 Category B, Biological Substance. Transport by NPHL ground courier. If courier not available, ship by FedEx, UPS, or USPS (1st Class, Priority or Express Mail). Follow appropriate DOT/IATA Regulation Guidelines. For assistance, call NPHL State Training Coordinator at (402) 559-3590. NUlirt packing list or appropriate paperwork (completed in entirety) must accompany specimens. |
| Unacceptable: | Nonsterile or leaking container, dry swab, dry material, syringes with needles attached, specimens submitted with anticoagulant other than SPS and frozen specimens. Specimen which is not received in anaerobic transport swab, closed syringe or container or refrigerated are unacceptable. Specimens from sites which have anaerobic bacteria as normal flora will be rejected (e.g., throat, feces, colostomy sites, rectal swabs, bronchial washes, cervical-vaginal mucosal swabs, sputum, skin and superficial wounds, voided or catheterized urine, and decubitus ulcer). |
| Specimen Stability: | Stable at Ambient 15-25°C |
| Reference Interval: | No Growth at 5d |
| Reportable Disease: | Report positive results within appropriate time to local or state health department. Refer to Nebraska DHHS Title 173, Communicable Diseases |
| Comments: | Pre-approval needed from state or local health department. Send approval to NPHL@unmc.edu or call (402) 559-9444. Culture of specimens from sites harboring endogenous anaerobic organisms or contaminated by endogenous organisms may be misleading with regard to etiology and appropriate therapy. Gram stain performed. Organism identification is performed when clinically relevant organisms are suspected. Antimicrobial susceptibilities are performed on clinically relevant isolates when appropriate, following methods (s) recommended by CLSI. Call Laboratory for list of routine susceptibility panels. Supplemental Forms Required – NUlirt packing list or NPHL Test Order Form (completed in entirety) must accompany the specimen. |
| Revised: | 6/9/2021 |