Culture, Urine, Routine
Test Code: 395
CPT Code(s): 87086
Clinical Significance: Urinary tract infections (UTI) are among the most common human infections. Infections may involve the urethra, bladder, kidneys, other organs, or adjacent tissues and may be complicated by bacteremia. The predictors of UTI are pyuria and bacteriuria. Microscopy and other rapid detection systems can detect pyuria. In voiding, the urine must pass through sites containing normal flora. Quantitative culturing of urine is an established tool to differentiate significant bacteriuria from contamination introduced during voiding. However, studies have shown that when the calibrated method is performed, even perfectly, colony counts are only approximations.
Includes: If culture is positive, CPT code(s): 87088 (each isolate) will be added with an additional charge.
Identification will be performed at an additional charge (CPT code(s): 87077 or 87140 or 87143 or 87147 or 87149).
Antibiotic susceptibilities are only performed when appropriate (CPT code(s): 87181 or 87184 or 87185 or 87186).
Methodology: Culture
Alternative Name(s): Urine, Routine Culture
Supply: U01 - C&S Gray Tube w/ Straw *Preferred Specimen
Alternative Supply: U02 - 90mL Sterile w/ Green Lid (If using, read instructions below)
Preferred Specimen(s): 4 mL random, clean catch, midstream urine collection in gray-top urine transport tube
Alternative Specimen(s): Indwelling catheter collected urine • Unpreserved specimens <3 mL from pediatric patients, patients with renal abnormalities, or difficult collections are acceptable when placed in a sterile leak-proof container (Supply #U09)
Preferred Volume: 4mL
Minimum Volume: Preserved: gray-top transport must be filled to minimum line printed on tube • Unpreserved: 0.5 mL urine
Collection Instructions: Gray-top tube: Fill to the fill line (4 mL) indicated on the tube label.
Transport Container: 4 ML vacutainer(tm) gray-top urine transport tube • Sterile Container: Only for specimens less than 3 mL from pediatric specimens or from patients with renal abnormalities
Transport Temperature:
Preserved: Room temperature or refrigerated (COLD PACKS)
Unpreserved: Refrigerated (COLD PACKS) only
Specimen Stability:
Preserved
- Room temperature: 48 hours
- Refrigerated: 48 hours
- Frozen: Unacceptable
Unpreserved
- Room temperature: Unacceptable
- Refrigerated: 24 hours
- Frozen: Unacceptable
Reject Criteria:
- Expired transport devices
- Leaking specimens
- Specimens submitted in transports other than those listed as acceptable
- Unpreserved urine >3 mL
- Urine tube not filled to minimum fill line
- Foley tips
- Specimens collected from catheter bag
- 24-hour urine collections
- Uricult devices
For additional supply or collection device information, please contact DLO's Customer Service at (800) 891-2917, option 2.
The CPT codes provided are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payor being billed.