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Test Code M53 Fungus Culture, Blood

Infectious

Additional Codes

ALAB: FBCULB

PowerChart: Culture Fungus Blood

MA Cerner: Fungus Culture, Blood

Test Method

Screen for Positive: BD Bactec FX

Specimen Requirement

Adult:  If only a Fungus only blood culture is ordered, using a winged blood collection device, collect (3 to 10ml) of blood into a BD Bactec Plus Aerobic/F bottle.   Refer to Blood Culture M44 for specific collection instructions.

If a Fungus Culture is ordered in addition to a routine culture, collect a BD Bactec Plus Aerobic/F bottle for the Fungus culture and a BD Bactec Plus Aerobic/F and BD Bactec Plus Anaerobic/F bottles for the routine Blood Culture. 

A separate order for a Fungus Blood Culture is requested in LIS.

Note:  If Histoplasmosis is suspected, a heparin tube is also drawn.  The whole blood is directly inoculated onto fungal plate media.

Performance

Blood Culture: 

  • Final Negative: After 5 days with no growth.
  • Preliminary Positive: When growth is detected.

Fungus:

  • Final Negative: After 4 weeks with no growth
  • Preliminary reports are called on positive cultures as soon as the fungus is isolated.
    Cultures positive for Histoplasma capsulatum, Coccidioides immitis, Cryptococcus neoformans, Blastomyces dermatitidis, Sporothrix schenckii are called to the nurse's station or physician office and Epidemiology.

Reference Values

Negative for Fungus in 4 weeks.

CPT Code Information

87103 Identification of Microorganisms; Culture, fungi (mold or yeast) isolation with presumptive identification of isloates; blood

Useful For

Diagnosis and treatment of the etiologic agents of fungemia

Select patient population that presents with signs and symptoms of sepsis, especially fever of unknown origin

LOINC Code

601-5 Fungus Identified In Blood By Culture

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