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Urine Culture
Ordering Recommendation
Quantitative culture to identify bacterial causes of urinary tract infections.
New York DOH Approval Status
Specimen Required
Midstream urine or foley catheter urine.
Transfer urine to a sterile container. (Min: 1 mL) Also acceptable: Transfer urine to a boric acid transport tube (fill to minimum line).
Unpreserved: Refrigerated.
Boric Acid Transport Tube: Room temperature.
Urine from catheter bag. Multiple (more than one in 24 hours), 24-hour, or pooled specimens. Foley catheter tips (syringe with needle attached). Delayed transport of unpreserved urine (greater than two hours at room temperature or greater than 24 hours refrigerated).
Specimen source required.
Unpreserved: Ambient: 2 hours; Refrigerated: 24 hours; Frozen: Unacceptable.
Boric Acid Tube: Ambient: 48 hours; Refrigerated: 48 hours; Frozen: Unacceptable.
Methodology
Culture/Methods may include biochemical, mass spectrometry, or sequencing.
Performed
Sun-Sat
Reported
1-3 days
Negative culture reported at 3 days. Positive culture reported as soon as detected.
Reference Interval
No growth.
Identification and susceptibility tests are performed on significant isolates.
Interpretive Data
Standard
Note
Identification and susceptibility tests are billed separately from culture.
Gram stain is performed by request only. Results indicate colony count plus identification of significant isolates.
Hotline History
CPT Codes
87086; Identification CPT codes may vary based on method
Components
| Component Test Code* | Component Chart Name | LOINC |
|---|---|---|
| 0060131 | Culture, Urine | 630-4 |
Aliases
- Aerobic Bacteria Culture, Urine
- Bacterial Culture, Aerobic, Urine
- Culture, Aerobic Bacteria, Urine
- Culture, Urine
