Fungal Culture
Ordering Recommendation
Use to culture pathogenic fungi from a direct specimen. If Candida auris is suspected, please indicate the specimen source and include a note to rule out C. auris.
Molecular diagnostics are preferred when screening for C. auris colonization of the skin; refer to Candida auris by PCR (3006370).
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.
New York DOH Approval Status
Specimen Required
Material or fluid from any body site, except blood.
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.
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.
Blood, catheter tips.
Additional information required: Specimen source. Notify laboratory if Malassezia furfur is suspected, special media must be used for the cultivation of this yeast.
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
Reference Interval
Culture negative for fungus.
Interpretive Data
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
CPT Codes
87102
Components
Component Test Code* | Component Chart Name | LOINC |
---|---|---|
0060149 | Culture, Fungal | 580-1 |
Aliases
- Culture, Fungus
- Dermatophyte Culture
- Fungal Culture, Routine
- mold
- Mold Culture
- mould
- Skin Culture
- Trichophyton Culture
- Yeast
- Yeast Culture