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Test Code BFC Body Fluid, Culture and Gram Stain

Performing Location

Southwestern Vermont Medical Center

Specimen Collection Information

Specimen  Min. Test Volume Collection Container Special Handling
Varies 2.0 mL Dark Green (lithium heparin) top
Port-A-Cul transport Vial		 Use aseptic technique throughout collection procedure

Reference Ranges & Critical Values

Assay Gender Age Range Normal Range Critical Values Units
BFC ALL 0 Minutes – 150 Years No bacteria seen, no growth after 48 hours.    

Collection Instructions

  1. Clean the needle puncture site with alcohol, and disinfect it with an iodine solution (1 to 2% tincture of iodine or a 10% solution of povidone-iodine [1% free iodine]) to prevent introduction of infection. (If tincture of iodine is used, remove with 70% ethanol after the procedure to avoid burn).

  2. The physician will aseptically perform percutaneous aspiration to obtain pleural, pericardial, peritoneal, or synovial fluids.

  3. Expel any air bubbles from the syringe, and inject the specimen into a sterile green-stoppered tube. If an anaerobe culture is ordered, inject a portion of the specimen into a PORT-A-CUL anaerobic transport vial

Day(s) Performed

Monday - Sunday

CPT

87070 - Culture
87205 - Gram Stain

LOINC

611-4