0060149
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Fungal Culture

MC FUNG
Example Reports
Negative
Positive

Ordering Recommendation

Use to culture pathogenic fungi from a direct specimen. 

Molecular diagnostics are recommended to screen for C. auris colonization of the skin; refer to Candida auris by PCR (3006370). 

Culture-based tests are not preferred to rule out C. auris. If culture is indicated to obtain an isolate from a skin specimen for public health and/or susceptibility testing, refer to Candida auris Surveillance Culture (3016815).

This test (0060149) may be used to culture suspected C. auris from specimens other than skin; please indicate the specimen source and include a note to rule out C. auris.

New York DOH Approval Status

This test is New York state approved.

Specimen Required

Patient Preparation
Collect

Material or fluid from any body site, except blood.

Specimen Preparation

Fluids: Transport 3 mL fluid in a sterile container. (Min: 1 mL). Material: Transfer to sterile container.
A single specimen may be cultured for both bacteria and fungi. Place each specimen in an individually sealed bag.  

Storage/Transport Temperature

Specimens from a sterile body site (fluids, tissues, etc.): Room temperature. If CSF cannot be transported within eight hours, hold at 35 C until the time of transport.
Cutaneous specimens (skin, hair, nails): Room temperature
Specimens from other nonsterile site (respiratory, GI tract, etc.): Refrigerated.

Unacceptable Conditions

Blood, catheter tips.

Remarks

Additional information required: Specimen source. Notify laboratory if Malassezia furfur is suspected, special media must be used for the cultivation of this yeast.

Stability

CSF: Ambient 48 hours; Refrigerated 1 week; Frozen Unacceptable
Hair or skin or nail scrapings: Ambient: 2 weeks; Refrigerated: Unacceptable Frozen: Unacceptable
All others: Ambient: 72 hours; Refrigerated: 1 week; Frozen: Unacceptable

Methodology

Culture

Performed

Sun-Sat

Reported

7-35 days
Preliminary negative culture reported at 3 weeks. Final negative culture reported at 5 weeks.  Positive culture reported as soon as detected.

Reference Interval

Culture negative for fungus.

Interpretive Data



Compliance Category

Standard

Note

Identification performed on mold isolates. Limited yeast identification performed from nonsterile sites. Identification of molds and/or yeasts on positives is billed separately from culture.

Fungal stain must be ordered separately. Refer to Fungal Stain, KOH with Calcofluor White (ARUP test code 2004589).

Order test according to source type:
Blood/bone marrow: order Blood Culture, Fungal (ARUP test code 0060070)

Ground tissue will be tested with a disclaimer. There is decreased sensitivity on ground tissue specimens for some fungi, including Mucorales species.

A minimum of 1 mL of fluid is recommended for recovery of fungus. Volumes less than 1 mL may compromise recovery of fungus from culture and will be tested with a suboptimal disclaimer.

Hotline History

N/A

CPT Codes

87102

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Components

Component Test Code* Component Chart Name LOINC
0060149 Culture, Fungal 580-1
* 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

  • Culture, Fungus
  • Dermatophyte Culture
  • Fungal Culture, Routine
  • mold
  • Mold Culture
  • mould
  • Skin Culture
  • Trichophyton Culture
  • Yeast
  • Yeast Culture
Fungal Culture