Culture, Viral

Culture, Viral

Alternate Test Name

Culture, Virus

Epic Mnemonic
Sunquest Mnemonic

LAB254
VIRCB

Category

Sendouts

Methodology

Cell culture

Test Performance Schedule

Daily

Result Availability

10 - 21 days

Container

Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, sputum, body fluid (indicate source/type), tissue, stool: Sterile, leak-proof container

Nasopharyngeal swab, nasopharyngeal wash/aspirate, throat swab, ocular swab: Viral Transport Media (UTM)

Volume

Sterile Container: Min. Vol.: 0.5 mL
UTM Swabs: One swab

Collection Instructions

CSF:
• Collected by lumbar, ventricular or cisternal puncture into sterile plastic tubes
• Tube numbers should correspond to sample collection order

Sputum:
• Cough up sputum from lungs, not saliva

UTM Swabs:
• Specify collection site on requisition
• Rotate the swab tip several times across the mucosal surface
• Remove the swab and insert into the red top tube of viral transport medium (UTM) immediately
• Push the swab into the tube and break the plastic shaft swab at the break line
• Replace cap and screw on tightly
• Note specimen type on container and requisition
• Refrigerate

Tissue, Wash/Aspirate:
• Place small portion of tissue into UTM Transport media

Transportation Instructions

Refrigerated

Stability

• Room Temperature: Unacceptable
• Refrigerated: 24 hours
• Frozen: 72 hours

Causes for Rejection

• Not received in appropriate transport media
• Dry swab

CPT Codes

87252, 87254

Effective/Revised

9/19/2019