Salmonella and Shigella, Culture
Test Code: 10019
CPT Code: 87045
Clinical Significance: Salmonella and shigella represent two of the most common bacterial causes of diarrhea. If other common causes of diarrhea are suspected, they must be ordered individually. For many patients, the cause of gastrointestinal infection is not identified.
Includes: If culture is positive, an identification will be performed at an additional charge (CPT code(s): 87077).
Antibiotic susceptibilities are only performed when appropriate (CPT code(s): 87186).
Methodology: Bacterial Culture • Aerobic isolation and identification procedures
Alternative Name(s): Stool Culture, Stool (Salmonella/Shigella) Culture
Supply: #F02 - Para-Pak® C&S with Cary-Blair Transport Medium or # S12 E-swab, Routine, white cap
Preferred Specimen: 1 gram or 1 mL stool collected in a modified Cary-Blair transport medium
Minimum volume: 1 gram or 1 mL
Transport container: Modified Cary-Blair transport medium or Amies liquid elution swab (ESwab®)
Transport temperature: Room temperature
- Stool or swab in Cary-Blair
Room temperature: 4 days
Refrigerated: 4 days
Frozen: Unacceptable - Swab in Amies
Room temperature: 48 hours
Refrigerated: 48 hours
Frozen: Unacceptable
- Dry rectal swab
- Raw stool not in transport medium
- Specimens in transport medium other than those listed as acceptable
- Modified Cary-Blair with a yellow-colored solution, indicating the sample has exceeded the buffering capacity
For additional supply or collection information, please contact DLO's Customer Service at (800) 891-2917, option 2.