Body Fluid Culture
Ordering Info & Methodology
Test Code
Cerner Synonyms
BODYFLUIDCULTURE
Culture Body Fluid, Fluid C&S, Body Fluids Culture, Sterile, fluid, aspirate, ascites, ascitic, dialysate, pleural, effusion, pericardial, synovial, joint
Turn Around Time
Methodology
Routine Culture (Aerobes & Anaerobes), Fungal Culture, Mycobacterial Culture
Ordering Guide
Specimen Requirements
Sample Type
Collection Container
Alternate Collection Containers
Body Fluid
C&S Container
Add on stability
This is the length of time after sample collection that this analyte is stable. Test can be added to a previously collected sample if the time since collection is less than the add on stability time.
Minimum Volume
Add On Stability
Collection and Shipping Requirements
Dialysates, pleural fluid, and any specimen that may be contaminated with fecal flora should be refrigerated if collected after-hours. Synovial fluid should be kept at room temperature if submitted after-hours.
Reference Intervals
Female Reference Interval
Age Category | Reference Interval | units |
|---|---|---|
Male Reference Interval
Age Category | Reference Interval | units |
|---|---|---|
Additional Notes
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Measurement Uncertainty (MU)
Every laboratory value is an estimate of the true concentration of substance. MU is the 95% confidence interval around that estimate. 95% of the time, the true concentration will be within the range of the reported value ±MU. This value is based on analytical variability (precision) and does not reflect other factors such as sample collection and handling which may also affect the result.
Example
Reported sodium = 140 mmol/L
Sodium MU = 1%
Expanded uncertainty = 140 mmol/L ± 1% or 140mmol/L ± 1.4 mmol/L
Interpretation - the true value of sodium in the sample is in the range 138.6-141.4 mmol/L, with 95% confidence.
Measurement Uncertainty
Submit as large a volume as possible in a C&S container or in a capped syringe (without the needle) if used for collection. Do not submit citrated specimens for culture. If the specimen is likely to form a clot, inoculate a portion of the fluid into a pediatric blood culture vial (available from Microbiology) immediately after collection.
There are separate instructions for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).