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HelpTest Code LAB2548 Fungal Culture and KOH Prep
Infectious
Clinical System Name
Fungal Culture and KOH Prep
Synonyms
Yeast
Filamentous Fungus
Thrush
Candida
LAB2548
Sample Requirements
SCH Main Campus Specimen Collection: Fluids, aspirates, and tissue samples should be collected and transported in a sterile screw-capped container (or syringe).
Specimens received on swabs are sometimes inferior to samples of tissue or fluid, but will be accepted if collected using BD ESwab collection system. Place the swab into the Amies transport media tube provided in the collection kit.
Note: Catheter tip is not a suitable sample for filamentous fungus culture and will be rejected.
Off-Site Specimen collection: Fluids, aspirates, and tissue samples should be collected and transported in a sterile screw-capped container (or syringe).
Specimens received on swabs are sometimes inferior to samples of tissue or fluid, but will be accepted if collected using BD ESwab collection system. Place the swab into the Amies transport media tube provided in the collection kit.
Preferred Vol: N/A
Minimum Vol: N/A
Processing Instructions
CPA: Send sample to Microbiology for processing. If sample is shared and only one tube, syringe or other container is received, affix shared sample label and send entire sample plus requisition to Microbiology.
Off-site processing: Fungal cultures are not set up at Off-site Children's Lab locations. Fluids, aspirates, and tissue samples that have been collected and transported in a sterile container or syringe should be sent via Delivery Express to Main Campus to allow set up within approximately 1 hour. Overlay any large tissue samples with Thio Broth and transport at room temp.
Smaller pieces of tissue can be placed into ESwab Amies transport media. Small tissue samples, or other samples collected on ESwabs can be held at room temperature before and during transport. Samples should be received into the SCH Lab within 24 hours of collection.
The Regional Labs do not stock media for Fungal culture set up, so if there is an anticipated delay in specimen transport best to send via Delivery Express to Main Campus.
Stability
|
Tissue, Fluid or Syringe |
|
|---|---|
| Temp | Time |
| Room temp |
1 hour |
| Refrigerated | N |
| Frozen | N |
|
BD ESwab |
|
|---|---|
| Temp | Time |
| Room temp | 24 hours |
| Refrigerated | OK up to 48 hours |
| Frozen | N |
Availability
| Procedure | Performed | Turn Around Time (TAT) |
|---|---|---|
| KOH/ Gram Stain | 24/7 |
24 hours |
| Culture | 24/7 | 4 weeks |
Cultures are read at appropriate intervals to detect early growth. STAT requests are not applicable.
Performing Laboratory
Seattle Children's Laboratory
Department
Microbiology Laboratory
CPT Codes
87102
87210 (used if KOH prep is performed)
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 Fungal culture and direct smear (either KOH w/calcofluor or Gram Stain depending on adequacy of specimen).
If sample is for suspected thrush or rule out yeast only, see Culture, Screen for Yeast.
For hair, skin, or nail samples for Dermatophyte culture see Fungal Culture and KOH Prep for Dermatophytes
For blood samples where filamentous fungus is suspected (Aspergillis, Coccidiodes, Fusarium, Histoplasma, and Blastomyces) see Fungal Culture, Blood
For blood samples where yeast are suspected see Blood Culture, Aerobic + Yeast.
Reporting Information
Negative Preliminary Report: 24 - 48 hours
Negative Final Report: 4 weeks
The report will be updated and the provider will be notified if growth is detected within the 4 week incubation period.
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