Culture, Wound

Culture, Wound

Alternate Test Name

Wound Culture

Epic Mnemonic
Sunquest Mnemonic

LAB503
WNDC

Category

Microbiology

Container

Sterile swab from culture collection/transport system or
Sterile container

Volume

Pref. Vol.: 5.0 mL fluid, tissue or 2 swabs
Min. Vol.: 1.0 mL fluid, tissue or one swab

Collection Instructions

NOTE: *Aspirates and tissue samples are collected BY PHYSICIAN ONLY.

Superficial Wounds Swab Collection:
• Cleanse wound thoroughly with normal saline
• Remove surface debris or exudate
• Rinse wound thoroughly with normal saline
• Take sterile swab and twirl end on 1cm area of wound for 5 seconds with enough pressure to cause minimal drainage. If wound bed is dry, moisten swab tip with sterile normal saline.
• Swab viable tissue. Avoid exudate, pus, necrotic tissue, wound margins and perimeter of wound

*Closed Abscesses:
• Aspirate infected material with needle and syringe
• If initial aspirate fails to obtain material, inject sterile, non-bacteriostatic saline subcutaneously. Repeat the aspiration attempt.
• Remove needle and submit with Luer-Lok on the syringe or place contents in sterile screw cap container. Do NOT submit syringe with needle attached.

*FNA (Fine Needle Aspirate):
• Insert the needle into the tissue, using various directions, if possible.
• Remove the needle and submit with Luer-Lok on the syringe.

*Ulcers and Nodules:
• Clean the area with sterile saline
• Remove overlying debris
• Curette the base of the ulcer or nodule
• If exudate is present from ulcer or nodule, collect it with a syringe or sterile swab

*Tissue:
• Cleanse wound thoroughly with normal saline
• Remove any superficial exudate or necrotic tissue and rinse wound thoroughly
• Avoid touching the wound surface with hands, gloves, or any other object
• Grasp a piece of the tissue and either snip or cut a small piece of the tissue using sterile technique
• Place specimen into the solid medium (aerobic or anaerobic can be done from this specimen or specimen in the liquid transport medium aerobic only can be from this specimen), or in a small amount of non-bactericidal saline in a sterile cup (aerobic only can be done from this specimen). The goal is to keep the specimen wet. Do not let it dry out.

NOTE: Follow manufacturer's directions for release of media within transport tube
• Document source of body fluid on label and requisition
• Catheter tip specimen: Submit no longer than 2 inch tip section from directly beneath the skin

Transportation Instructions

Room temperature

Causes for Rejection

• Not received in appropriate collection and transport container
• Dry swab
• Improperly collected specimen

CPT Codes

87070

Effective/Revised

10/15/12