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Culture CSF

CPT/HCPCS 87070, 87205
Order Code CULTCSF
Turnaround Time up to 14 days
Test Includes

Aerobic culture and Gram Stain. If culture is positive, identification will be performed at an additional charge (CPT code(s): 87077 or 87140 or 87143 or 87147 or 87149). Antibiotic susceptibilities are only performed when appropriate (CPT code(s): 87181 or 87184 or 87185 or 87186).

Specimen Requirements
Specimen Source
CSF
Transport Container
(Specimen Container)

Sterile, plastic screw-cap tube or Port-A-Cul® gel vial

Preferred Specimens
CSF
Collection Instructions
(Transport Temperature)
Transport at Room Temperature
Specimen Stability
Temperature Period
Room temperature Transport to the lab as soon as possible.
Refrigerated Unacceptable
Frozen Unacceptable
Reject Criteria

Refrigerated specimen

Test Details
Clinical Significance

Cerebrospinal fluid cultures are of importance in the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis, an inflammation of the meninges. The most common causes of this life threatening condition are E. coli and Group B streptococci in neonates, H. influenzae (2 months 5 years), N. meningitidis (all ages, most common in older children and young adults) and S. pneumoniae (all ages).