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Test Code LAB2540 Strep Screen Culture

Important Note

A Strep Screen Culture will not be reflexively ordered for throat swabs that have a Negative result by the Rapid Strep A PCR testing.  Additional follow-up testing by culture is recommended if the Xpert Xpress Strep A test result is negative and clinical symptoms persist, or there is an outbreak of acute rheumatic fever (ARF).  If a culture is required, the test must be ordered separately from the Rapid Strep A PCR test.

This test is for throat/pharynx/tonsil or rectal/perianal sources only.  For samples from other sources, order the appropriate culture for the source collected.

Infectious

Clinical System Name

Strep Screen Culture

Sample Requirements

Throat Source

Specimen: Throat sample collected on BD ESwab System (preferred).

 

Container: Insert swab into the sterile plastic tube provided in the package.

 

Perianal/Rectal Source

Specimen: Sample collected on a BD ESwab (preferred).

 

Container: Sterile Container. BD ESwabs should be inserted into the sterile tube of transport media provided in the package.

 

Preferred Vol: N/A

Minimum Vol: N/A

 

Other swab types that may be accepted for culture only:

  • Cotton Tips
  • Swabs that have a wooden shaft
  • Calcium alginate swabs
  • Swabs in charcoal media
  • Swabs in semisolid (gel) media

Please contact the Microbiology Department for any questions on acceptable swab types.

Processing Instructions

CPA: Send sample to Microbiology for processing.

 

Regional Clinic collection: If only Throat Culture is ordered, send to Microbiology for processing.

If Rapid Strep test is also ordered, perform Rapid Strep Test and forward the swab to Microbiology for processing.

Stability

BD ESwabs
Temp Time
Room temp 24 hours
Refrigerated N
Frozen N

 

Availability

Procedure Performed Turn Around Time (TAT)
Gram Stain N/A

N/A
Culture 24/7 18 - 48 hours

Cultures are read at appropriate intervals to detect early bacterial growth. STAT requests are not applicable.

Gram stains are not performed on this culture.

Performing Laboratory

Seattle Children's Laboratory

 

Department

Microbiology Laboratory

CPT Codes

87081

 

This test is not limited to the CPT codes listed.  Others may be added as more testing is necessary and depending on the pathogens isolated (such as MIC's and ID's)

Description

Includes aerobic bacterial culture for Group A Strep (Streptococcus pyogenes). No gram stain is performed.

 

For cultures from the throat, Arcanobacterium haemolyticum is also reported when isolated on this culture.

 

Note: For Neisseria gonorrhoeae  screen on throat culture, see GC PCR.

 

Notifiable Result

See Link below for Notifiable Conditions for WA state labs:

https://doh.wa.gov/public-health-healthcare-providers/notifiable-conditions

 

See Link below for PDF of phone numbers for Local Health jurisdictions (by County) in WA State:

https://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/1200/LHJCommunicableDiseaseReporting.pdf

Reporting Information

Final Report: 18-48 hours

 

Synonymns

Group A Strep Culture

Throat Culture

Non-Throat Strep Screen

Strep A Screen

Streptococcus pyogenes

LAB2540