Laboratory Fee Schedule
Procedure: MCD0276A
CPT: 87143
| Synonym(s): |
Actino, Nocardia, Actinomadura |
| Requisition Form |
G-MYCO |
| Test Description |
Test for the identification of aerobic Actinomycete isolates, not Mycobacterium, referred to DSHS Laboratory |
| Pre-Approval Needed |
N/A |
| Supplemental Information Required |
N/A |
| Supplemental Form(s) |
N/A |
| Performed on Specimens from (sources) |
Pure isolate from human sources |
| Sample/Specimen Type for Testing |
Aerobic Actinomycete pure isolate in liquid or on solid culture medium |
| Minimum Volume/Size Required |
- Liquid culture - 2.0 mL
- Solid culture - Single mature colony
|
| Storage/Preservation Prior to Shipping |
Ambient |
| Transport Medium |
N/A |
| Specimen Labeling |
- At least two patient identifiers required on specimen (e.g., patient full name, date of birth, medical record number).
- Three patient identifiers are preferred.
- Patient identifiers on specimen label must exactly match identifiers on submission form. (e.g., abbreviated name on label and full name on form is not acceptable.)
- Additional DSHS Laboratory specimen labeling guidelines available online here.
|
| Shipping and Specimen Handling Requirements |
- Ship according to Dangerous Goods Regulations, IATA, and/or CFR 49
- Category B shipping applies for unidentified isolates
|
| Method |
- High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)
|
| Turn-around Time |
HPLC is one test in a battery of tests that take 3 to 4 weeks for full identification. |
| Interferences/Limitations |
- HPLC may only detect the predominant organism in a mixed culture.
- HPLC cannot definitively identify an aerobic Actinomycete.
- Additional testing methods are needed provide definitive identification.
|
| Common Causes for Rejection |
- Cultures infested with mites
- Cultures broken in transit
- Missing identifiers on specimen or submission form
- Mismatch between specimen and/or submission form identifiers
|
| Additional Information |
- Within one week of isolate receipt, and based on the HPLC analysis, the absence or presence of cell wall mycolic acids can be determined and/or a presumptive identification made based on mycolic acid pattern similarity to a given genus.
|