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Test Code CXFLD Culture, Fluid (except CSF)

Performing Laboratory

Hunterdon Medical Center Laboratory

Specimen Required

Indicate source of specimen as well as date and time of collection.

Collection by percutaneous aspiration: needle aspiration after skin disinfection. Express air bubbles from syringe, remove needle and cap syringe or transfer to a sterile tube, container or anaerobic transport vial.

Alternatively, fluid may be transferred at the bedside to blood culture bottle(s), using the recommended volumes. Retain some fluid in the syringe for a Gram stain and direct plating and deliver with specimens to the laboratory.

 Other acceptable containers include:

  •  Sterile blood collection tube with NO preservatives, (plain red rop tube with no preservative)
  •  Anaerobic transport vial, or a regular sterile container if anaerobes are not indicated.

Swabs submitted with no volume of fluid will be re-ordered as Wound Culture

Specimen Type

Joint fluid or synovial fluid.

Pleural fluid:

       Thoracentesis fluid

        Empyema fluid

Peritoneal fluid:

        Ascites fluid

        Paracentesis fluid

        Abdominal fluid

        Peritoneal Dilaysis fluid

        PV fluid from peritoneal-ventricle shunt

Drainage and Abscess Aspirate

Pericardial fluid

Culdocentesis fluid- transvaginal aspirate of cul-de-sac

Amniotic fluid

Specimen Transport Temperature

Ambient. For inpatient testing, deliver specimen within 15 minutes to facilitate immediate Gram Stain testing.

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Temperature Time Frame
Fluids in general Ambient 15-25°C 24 hours
Pericardial fluid Refrigerated 2-8°C ≤ 24 hours

Reject Due To

Swabs afford the least desirable sample for culture and should be avoided.

Drainage fluids are discouraged in favor of direct aspiration of the area being drained.

The use of tubes containing anticoagulant should be avoided due to inhibition of microbial growth.

If they must be used  SPS or Green (heparin) tubes are acceptable. Specimens collected in Citrate or EDTA are unacceptable.

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Sunday.

Reference Values

No growth

Method Name

Conventional culture and Biochemical identification methods.

Susceptibilities will be performed at additional charge, if appropriate.