Laboratory Services

Culture, Wound

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Updated Test Information:

Test Description
Culture, Wound
Synonym(s)

Wound Culture, Skin Culture, Aerobic Culture, Superficial Wound, Bacterial Culture

Test ID
CULTWND
General Information

Identify significant aerobic bacterial pathogens in wound specimen

Specimen Type

Wound

Alternate Specimen Type

Clinical Material, Abscess, Skin, Ulcer, Lesion, Superficial Wound, Incision, Insect Bite

Specimen Requirements

Bacterial Culture Transport Swab w/gel, Amies Transport swab, Eswab, Clinical material in a sterile container. Other transport systems also accepted.

Stability

Swab specimen:
Ambient 48 hours
Refrigerated 48 hours

Sterile container:
Ambient preferred <24 hours, will accept 48 hours

Unacceptable Specimen Conditions

Unacceptable specimen transport device (including Incyte Swab, specimen in formalin, expired), frozen, improper labeling, prolonged delay in transport

Limitations

If the specimen is not properly collected and immediately put into transport media anaerobic organisms may not be viable for culture.

Methodology

Stain/Culture

Estimated TAT

2-4 days. Positive culture reported as soon as detected.

Testing Schedule

Monday-Saturday

CPT Code(s)

87070
87205

Reference Range

No significant pathogens isolated.

Reflex Conditions

 Identification and susceptibility performed on significant isolates.

Performing Lab

Incyte Diagnostics

LOINC Code(s)

634-6

Additional Information

Organism identification and susceptibility tests are billed separately from the culture.