Advanced Diagnostic Laboratories

Fluid Culture

Test Code

CXFLD

Description

Fluid culture is used to determine if there is an infection in a sterile body fluid. This test includes a Gram stain and culture.

This test does not include blood, CSF, and urine, which each have their own orders.
Specimens sent under anaerobic condition will be cultured for aerobic and anaerobic pathogens. Specimens not sent under anaerobic conditions will only be examined for aerobic pathogens.
Organisms seen in the Gram stain or recovered in culture from a sterile source are considered a critical result. Critical results are called to the ordering physician in accordance with the NJH critical policy.

Collect

Acceptable sources: pleural, peritoneal, pericardial, ascites, amniotic, culdocentesis, and synovial fluids

Collect via percutaneous aspiration prior to antimicrobial treatment. Cleanse area with 10% solution of providone-iodine. Aseptically perform aspiration with needle and syringe to obtain fluid. Expel the air from the syringe before capping.

A syringe with the air expelled is the preferred collection type. Fluid in a sterile container will also be accepted, but anaerobic culture will not be performed.

Preferred volume: 3 mL
Minimum volume: 1 mL

Patient Prep

Avoid antibiotic administration prior to sample collection.

Unacceptable Conditions

Specimens received outside of temperature storage requirements (DO NOT refrigerate)
Specimens received outside of stability time frame
Specimens that do not meet the minimum volume requirement
Swabs
Fluid in blood culture bottles
Specimens in non-sterile containers
Any container with preservatives
Specimens from a source not acceptable for this testing
Specimens that are excessively leaking
Mislabeled or unlabeled specimen (exception with attestation for specimens from irretrievable source)

Stability

For optimal recovery of potential pathogens, specimens should arrive as soon as possible at room temperature (20-25°C)
If transportation is delayed, specimens may remain at room temperature (20-25°C) for maximum of 24 hours

Notes

Specimens from irretrievable sources will be processed with a disclaimer if the specimen was received in sub optimal conditions.

Performed

7 days a week from 8am to 6pm

Methodology

Aerobic and anaerobic (if collected appropriately) bacterial culture

Turnaround Time

5 days for all sources other than synovial fluid
14 days for synovial fluid

Department

Microbiology Lab

Synonyms

Anaerobic and aerobic culture

Study Offerings

Not offered