Sign in →

Test Code LRT Lower Respiratory Culture

Specimen Type

Sputum (first morning specimen is preferred), tracheal aspirate, bronchial alveolar lavage, bronchial washing, bronchial brushing, transtracheal aspirate, or endotracheal aspirate.

Preferred Collection Container

STL-CUP

Collection Volume

2-10 mL

Minimum Collection Volume

2 mL

Collection Instructions

Maximum of one sputum specimen per day.

Rejection Criteria

Specimen not received in appropriate sterile container; Room temperature specimen older than 2 hours; Unlabelled specimen; Incomplete requisition; Specimen containing food particles.

If the sputum specimen is microscopically consistent with saliva.

Specimen Storage and Stability

Room Temperature for specimens <2 hours old.

Refrigerate for specimens <24 hours old.

Turn Around Time

Cultures with no growth or normal flora will be reported at 2 days. Reports on specimens from which pathogens are isolated require at least 48 hours for completion.

Lab Department

Microbiology

Alias

Lower Respiratory Culture; Culture, Sputum; Sputum Culture and Gram stain; Tracheal Aspirate Culture; Bronchial Alveolar Lavage (BAL) Culture; Bronchial Washing Culture;

EPIC Code

LAB900

Acceptable Collection Container

Sterile container; or sputum trap.

If an AFB culture is also ordered, sputum specimen must be in Falcon trap container to minimize aerosolization of potential AFB organisms.

Patient Preparation

For Sputums: patient should be instructed to remove dentures, rinse mouth and gargle with water. The patient should then cough deeply and expectorate sputum into proper container.

Day(s) and Time(s) Performed

6:00am – 12:30am