Tests Catalogs

All sample types, except blood and urine.  Submit in a sterile container.

Specimen source is required.

If submitting a Pink top tube (EDTA), refer to test code BKPCRPLS.

If submitting a urine sample, refer to test code BKPCRUR.

0.5mL

Sample not properly identified; insufficient sample volume; contaminated specimen; clotted sample; gross hemolysis;  non sterile or leaking containers; and samples containing fixatives.

For plasma, refer to test code BKPCRPLS. For urine, refer to test code BKPCRUR.

Internal: Deliver to lab immediately.
Offsite: Send at 2-8 degrees C if delivery is less than 72 hours. If delivery is not expected within 72 hours, freeze at -70 degrees C and ship on dry ice.

Ambient: 12 hours; Refrigerated: 72 hours; Frozen (-70 degrees C): 6 months

Qualitative results will be given for tissues, stools, swabs, or diluted samples. Quantitative results will be given for undiluted fluids such as bronchial fluid, amniotic fluid, etc.

PCL Clinical Laboratory - Molecular Diagnostics

Urine submitted in a sterile container.

Specimen source must be included on requisition.

At least 0.5 mL of urine in a sterile container.

Sample not properly identified, incorrect container, insufficient sample volume, contaminated specimen, inproper storage conditions; no fixatives allowed.

Internal: Deliver to lab immediately.

Offsite: Send at 2-8 degrees C if tested within 72 hours. If delivery is not expected within 72 hours, freeze at -70 degrees C and ship on dry ice.

Ambient: 12 hours; Refrigerated: 3 days; Frozen (-70 degrees C): 6 months.

Quantitative results will be given.

PCL Clinical Laboratory - Molecular Diagnosis

One 6 mL Pink top tube (EDTA). Also Acceptable: One 4 mL Purple top tube (EDTA).

Specimen source must be included on requisition.

At least 0.5mL of whole blood collected in a 1.0mL pink top microtainer (EDTA) or other blood tube with EDTA anticoagulant.

Sample not properly identified; insufficient sample volume; contaminated specimen; clotted sample; tubes not filled to 80-100% capacity; improper storage conditions; gross hemolysis; samples stored in fixatives.

Internal: Deliver to lab immediately.

Offsite: Send at 2-8 degrees C if tested within 72 hours. If delivery is not expected within 72 hours, centrifuge, transfer supernatant to an aliquot tube, and freeze at -70 degrees C. Ship on dry ice.

Ambient: 12 hours; Refrigerated: 3 days; Frozen (-70 degrees C): 6 months.

Quantitative results will be reported.

PCL Clinical Laboratory - Molecular Diagnostics

See "University of Colorado Hospital Policy and Procedure - Blood Cultures" and Blood Culture Job Aid for phlebotomy instructions.

One blood culture set requires drawing 20-22 mL: 10mL per bottle (aerobic and anaerobic) and, for line draws only, 1-2 mL for green top tube (heparin). Two sets of cultures are recommended, each set drawn from a diffferent site, or from the same site 10 minutes apart.

Also acceptable: Smaller amounts of blood are acceptable (3-10 mL). Inoculate entire amount into an aerobic culture bottle.

0.5 - 5 mL in a Pediatric blood culture bottle.

Sample not properly identified; incorrect container; blood culture bottles other than Bactec brand; broken bottles.

Internal: Deliver to lab immediately at ambient temperature.
Offsite: Transport to the laboratory as soon as possible. DO NOT refrigerate. Transportation time must not exceed 16 hours.

Ambient: Transport to laboratory as soon as possible, and not to exceed 16 hours, to achieve best results; Refrigerated: Unacceptable; Frozen: Unacceptable.

Routine blood cultures detect aerobic and anaerobic bacteria as well as fungus (yeast). Single sets should only be used to document a continuous bacteremia after the initial sets have become positive. Blood cultures should be obtained by venipuncture unless otherwise ordered by the physician. Quantitative blood cultures, drawn in heparin tubes, are important to assess bacteremia that may be caused by an infected line.

PCL Clinical Laboratory - Microbiology

Place labels which include the patient's full name and medical record number on each bottle and on the heparin tube. DO NOT COVER THE BAR CODE LABELS ON THE BOTTLES. Write on the label: 1) Site of blood draw; 2) Actual time of blood draw; 3) Date; and 4) Your initials.

Gram stain, identification, and susceptibility tests are billed separately from the culture.

10 mL Isolator tube (available from the Microbiology Laboratory).

Minimum volume 8-10 mL.

Specimen not received in isolator blood culture tube; broken tube; specimen not properly identified.

Internal: Deliver to lab immediately at ambient temperature
Offsite: Deliver to lab at ambient temperature within 8 hours.

Ambient: 8 hours.

Lysis centrifugation has been shown to be an optimal method for recovery of certain types of fungal isolates from blood, such as Histoplasma andMalassezia.  Isolator cultures may improve recovery of Neisseria meningitidis andNeisseria gonorrhoeae.  All requests for isolator blood cultures must be approved by the Laboratory Director. Contact the Microbiology Laboratory for approval and isolator tubes.

PCL Clinical Laboratory - Microbiology

PCL Inpatients and Outpatients:

One 4 mL purple top, EDTA whole blood.

Clients:

• One 4 ml purple top, EDTA whole blood, if possible
• 4-6 peripheral blood smears, unstained (one may be stained with Wright-Giemsa for quicker results).
• Slides should be made within one hour of collection.
• Include patient's travel history

Repeat specimens collected less than 8 hours after initial sample; sample not properly identified, insufficient sample volume; incorrect container.

Internal: Deliver to lab immediately.
Offsite: Deliver to lab immediately. Do not centrifuge. Ambient (room) temperature is optimal. Refrigerate if specimen will be delayed more than two hours.

For optimum blood parasite detection and speciation, slides must be made from EDTA blood within one hour of collection.  Transport EDTA whole blood to lab immediately so that slides can be made.

• Contact Infectious Disease Service for consultation for optimal collection times.
• Blood Parasite test consists of a slide examination for Plasmodium (malaria) species, Babesia, Trypanosomes, and microfilariae.
• Include patient's travel history with the order.
• In some circumstances (i.e., evening and night shift), a Rapid Malaria antigen test may be performed. This test screens for the presence of malaria, specifically Plasmodium falciparum.  Final result for blood parasites requires slide examination by special stains.
• For P. falciparum and Babesia species only, the percent of parasitized RBCs is used to determine the type of treatment given to a patient, and to assess the therapeutic response. Submit a second specimen at least 8 hours after treatment has been initiated to monitor parasitemia levels..

PCL Clinical Laboratory - Microbiology

One 4.5 mL Green top with gel (PST) (lithium heparin plasma).

At least 0.5 mL of whole blood collected in a microtainer, green top with gel, plasma (lithium heparin).

Sodium citrate anticoagulant; sample not properly identified; incorrect container; insufficient sample volume.

Internal: Deliver to lab immediately at ambient temperature.
Offsite: Centrifuge within 30 minutes of collection. Transport to laboratory at ambient temperature.

Before centrifugation: Ambient , 1 hour.

After centrifugation: Ambient, 24 hrs; Refrigerated, 5 days; Frozen: Unacceptable.

Plasma aliquot: Ambient, 24 hours; Refrigerated, 5 days; Frozen (-20 degrees C), 3 months.

PCL Clinical Laboratory - Core

Aseptically aspirated body fluid. Send in sterile capped syringe, urine container or white top tube.

Peritoneal fluid and synovial fluid are accepted in blood culture bottles, but should also send fluid in a syringe for stains.

Minimum volume 2 mL , but more is always better.

Body fluids received in any tube with an additive (EDTA, heparin, etc.); specimen not properly identified; incorrect container; insufficient sample volume.

Internal: Deliver to lab immediately.
Offsite: Refrigerate and transport same day.

Room temp: transport immediately to the laboratory. If in transport media, deliver within 1 hour.

Routine aerobic bacterial culture only. For other requests, order specific culture (e.g. C AFB for Mycobacterial culture). C BF ANA must also be ordered for anaerobic culture. Test includes a direct Gram stain and sensitivity tests on aerobic pathogens , if recovered. Physician is notified of all positive smears or cultures. Negative cultures are reported at 48 hours with broth held for 7 days prior to discarding. Body fluids include dialysate, amniotic, bursa, joint or synovial fluid, pericardial, peritoneal, pleural, ascites, tympanocentesis, etc.

PCL Clinical Laboratory - Microbiology

Gram stain, identification, and susceptibility tests are billed separately from the culture.

Aseptically aspirated body fluid. Send in sterile capped syringe, urine container or white top tube.

Peritoneal fluid and synovial fluid are accepted in blood culture bottles, but should also send fluid in a syringe for stains.

Minimum volume 2 mL.

Body fluids received in any tube with an additive (EDTA, heparin, etc.); specimen not properly identified; incorrect container; insufficient sample volume.

Internal: Deliver to lab immediately.
Offsite: Inoculate anaerobic transport media and transport the same day.

Room temp: transport immediately to the laboratory. If in transport media, deliver within 1 hour.

Routine anaerobic bacterial culture only. For other requests, order specific culture (e.g. C AFB for Mycobacterial culture). C BF must also be ordered for aerobic culture. Physician is notified of all positive smears or cultures. Negative cultures are reported at 48hr with broth held for 7 days prior to discarding. Body fluids include dialysate, amniotic, bursa, joint or synovial fluid, pericardial, peritoneal, pleural, ascites, tympanocentesis, etc.

PCL Clinical Laboratory - Microbiology