Ordering Recommendation
Detect Nocardia and other aerobic actinomycetes.
Mnemonic
Methodology
Culture
Performed
Sun-Sat
Reported
1-15 days
Negative culture reported at 15 days. Positive culture reported as soon as detected.
New York DOH Approval Status
Specimen Required
Aspirate, fluid, respiratory specimen, or tissue.
Fluid: Transfer to a sterile container. Tissue: Place on gauze moistened with sterile non-bacteriostatic saline to prevent drying and transport in sterile container.
Room temperature.
Identification is by DNA sequencing for most isolates.
Ambient: 72 hours; Refrigerated: 72 hours; Frozen: Unacceptable
Reference Interval
Culture negative for Nocardia species.
Interpretive Data
Standard
Note
If positive, identification is billed separately. For susceptibility testing, order Antimicrobial Susceptibility - Nocardia (0060193). Susceptibility testing should be performed on all significant Nocardia isolates. Culture also detects other actinomycetes (Streptomyces, Rhodococcus, Gordona, Tsukamurella, etc.). To submit a Nocardia isolate for identification, order Aerobic Organism Identification (ARUP test code 0060115). To submit a Nocardia isolate for identification AND susceptibility, order Aerobic Organism Identification with Reflex to Susceptibility (ARUP test code 0065070).
Hotline History
CPT Codes
87070
Components
Component Test Code* | Component Chart Name | LOINC |
---|---|---|
0060093 | Culture, Nocardia | 43365-6 |
Aliases
- Actinomycetes
- Culture, Nocardia
- Nocardia gram-stain and culture