Ordering Recommendation

Detect Acanthamoeba spp and Naegleria fowleri in various specimen types.

New York DOH Approval Status

This test is New York state approved.

Specimen Required

Patient Preparation
Collect

Corneal scrapings, vitreous fluid or tissue.

Specimen Preparation

Place corneal scrapings, vitreous fluid, or tissue in 2 mL of Page Amoeba Saline (ARUP supply #31917). Available online through eSupply using ARUP Connect™ or contact Client Services at (800) 522-2787.

Storage/Transport Temperature

Room temperature.

Unacceptable Conditions

Specimens in media or preservatives.

Remarks

Specimen source preferred.

Stability

Ambient: 72 hours; Refrigerated: Unacceptable; Frozen: Unacceptable

Methodology

Qualitative Culture/Microscopy

Performed

Sun-Sat

Reported

2-10 days

Reference Interval

Negative

Interpretive Data

This culture will detect free-living amoeba such as Acanthamoeba species and Naegleria fowleri but will NOT detect Balamuthia mandrillaris.

Compliance Category

Standard

Note

For CSF refer to Acanthamoeba and Naegleria Culture and Stain, CSF (ARUP test code 3000878). For Entamoeba histolytica detection refer to Entamoeba histolytica Antigen, EIA (ARUP test code 0058001).

Hotline History

N/A

CPT Codes

87081

Components

Component Test Code* Component Chart Name LOINC
0060245 Acanthamoeba and Naegleria Culture 9781-6
* Component test codes cannot be used to order tests. The information provided here is not sufficient for interface builds; for a complete test mix, please click the sidebar link to access the Interface Map.

Aliases

  • amoeba culture
  • Culture for Acanthamoeba, Corneal Scrapings
  • Culture for Naegleria, Corneal Scrapings
  • Free living amoeba culture
  • Naegleria Culture
  • Naegleria fowleri culture
Acanthamoeba and Naegleria Culture