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Leptospira Culture
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Ordering Recommendation
May provide definitive diagnosis, but sensitivity is low and culture may take several weeks to yield result.
Mnemonic
Methodology
Culture
Performed
Sun-Sat
Reported
Negative at 43 days
Positives as soon as detected
New York DOH Approval Status
Specimen Required
CSF or blood should be collected within first week of illness; urine after the first week of illness. Blood is collected per blood culture procedure.
Green (sodium heparin) or sodium oxalate. Also acceptable: Bactec aerobic resin bottle or other commercial blood culture bottles, CSF, or urine.
Blood: Transport 1 mL whole blood in heparin, sodium oxalate tube, or blood culture bottles. (Min: 1 mL)
CSF: Transport 0.5 mL CSF in a sterile container. (Min: 0.1 mL)
Urine: Dilute 1 mL urine 1:10 in 1 percent bovine serum albumin within one hour of collection. Transport 4 mL diluted urine in a sterile container. (Min: 0.1 mL)
Room temperature.
Clotted whole blood or whole blood submitted in anticoagulant other than those listed above. Urine not diluted with bovine serum albumin within 1 hour of collection or urine in preservative.
Specimen source required.
Blood culture bottles: Ambient: 48 hours; Refrigerated: Unacceptable; Frozen: Unacceptable
Other: Ambient 24 hours; Refrigerated: Unacceptable; Frozen: Unacceptable
Reference Interval
Culture negative for Leptospira.
Interpretive Data
Standard
Note
Identification tests are billed separately from culture.
Leptospira spp. may not survive extended transport time or in acidic urine.
Hotline History
CPT Codes
87081; 87166
Components
| Component Test Code* | Component Chart Name | LOINC |
|---|---|---|
| 0060158 | Culture, Leptospira | 594-2 |
Aliases
- Culture, Leptospira
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