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Print CPT 87101
Synonyms
- Blood Culture, Fungus
- Culture, Fungus (Mycology)
- Fungus Culture, Blood
Test Details
Turnaround Time
7 - 10 days
Use
Blood: Isolate and identify yeast; establish the diagnosis of fungemia, fungal endocarditis and disseminated mycosis in patients at risk for fungal infections
Test Includes
If a yeast is isolated, it will be automatically reflexed to identification.
Limitations
Blood: A single (or even multiple) negative fungal blood culture does not exclude disseminated fungal infection. If disseminated or deep fungal infection is strongly suspected despite repeatedly negative blood cultures, biopsy of the appropriate tissue and/or bone marrow aspiration for sections and fungus culture should be considered.
Filamentous fungi will not be recovered by this methodology specifically: Systemic fungal pathogens (i.e., Histoplasma capsulatum, Blastomyces dermatitidis, Coccidioides immitis) will not be recovered by this culture. Dermatophytes (Trichophyton, Microsporum and Epidermophyton) will not be recovered by this culture.
Not recommended for sterile body sites, corneal scrapings or surgically-collected specimens.
Methodology
Culture
Specimen Requirements
Information on collection, storage, and volume
Specimen
Aspirate, biopsy, blood, body fluid, nails, skin, sputum, swab of conjunctiva, throat, urine, vaginal
Volume
For optimal recovery: 2 mL or 1 cm3 tissue, 10 mL blood, whole nails, 5-10 mL body fluids and BAL, 3-5 mL CSF, 5 mL aspirates or sputum
Minimum Volume
1 mL body fluid including BAL and CSF; aspirates or sputum
Container
Fluid or tissue: Sterile screw-capped container
Blood: Green-top (sodium heparin) tube, aerobic blood culture bottle
Other: Bacterial swab transport including ESwab®
Storage Instructions
Maintain specimen at room temperature.
Causes for Rejection
Unlabeled specimen or name discrepancy between specimen and request label; specimen submitted in syringe with needle attached; specimen received after prolonged transport (usually more than 72 hours); lithium heparin tube; stool; specimen received after leaking transport container into specimen bag (Trach-suction devices will often leak if the cap with tubing is not removed and replaced by solid cap. If tubing cannot be replaced by a solid cap, the specimen should be transferred to a leakproof sterile cup with a screwcap); inappropriate transport device
Collection
Biopsy: Surgical specimen in sterile container. Sterile nonbacteriostatic water may be used to prevent drying.
Body fluid, aspirates: Aspirated material in sterile container.
Skin and nails: Cleanse the area with 70% alcohol prior to specimen collection. Nail scraping should be from a subsurface portion of the infected nail. Skin should be taken from the active border of the lesion.
Swabs of throat, nose, nasopharynx, ear: Swab affected area or visible lesion.
Urine: Clean catch midstream sample in sterile container.
Wound: Aspirate of purulent material or fluid; scraping of lesion border, or swab (least preferred) in sterile container. Swabs cannot be split for other tests.
Avoid contamination of the specimen with commensal organism as much as possible. Specify the source of the specimen and include any pertinent clinical information. Cultures are incubated one week before a final report is issued.