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Test Code SENS Culture, Organism Susceptibility Only, Aerobic

Important Note

For outreach ordering only. Not available for internal ordering.

Synonyms/Keywords

Culture Sensi, Aerobic

Specimen Requirements

Specimen Type Preferred Container/Tube Acceptable Container/Tube Specimen Volume Specimen Minimum Volume
(allows for 1 repeat)		 Pediatric Minimum Volume
(no repeat)
Pure culture of aerobic bacterium Sealed agar plates

Agar slant (e.g. chocolate,

tryptic soy)

 

  Broth (e.g. tryptic soy, thioglycollate)

 

      

Collection/Processing Instructions

Submit pure culture of organism on agar plates to keep turn-around-time of susceptibility to a minimum.

 

Clearly state the name (ID) of the organism submitted for susceptibility testing. If the identification is not indicated, the organism will be identified at an additional charge. If the organism identification is unknown, order the IDEN test and indicate that susceptibility testing is desired. 

 

Do not send primary plates or plates with mixed cultures.  Multiple organisms submitted will be tested and charged separately. Delay in results will occur.   Sensitivity CPT and fee depend upon methodology.

 

Ensure that plates are properly sealed (e.g. tape or parafilm) to prevent contamination and exposure to laboratory personnel.

 

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time
Agar plate or slant After incubation, store at room temperature 5 days
Broth Room temperature 7 days

Test Information

If testing of specific antimicrobial agents is desired, please indicate that on the test request form. If not indicated, standard panels will be tested.  


Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (AST) will be performed if standardized methods are available based upon Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. Methods used include disk diffusion, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) by broth microdilution, or MIC by Etest®

 

 A listing of the tested and reported antimicrobial agents can be seen at Antimicrobial Susceptibility Panels. If testing against a specific antimicrobial agent is desired, contact the microbiology laboratory.

 

The microbiology laboratory uses selective reporting of susceptibility results in order to promote rational antimicrobial usage. For more information on selective reporting, please contact the microbiology technical manager.   

 

Standardized AST is not available for all bacterial species, in which case an MIC determined by a non-standardized method and without interpretation may be available upon request.   

 

The microbiology laboratory publishes an annual cumulative antibiogram for commonly isolated bacteria, available at  Marshfield Medical Center (Marshfield, WI), 2024 COMBINED INPATIENT AND OUTPATIENT Antibiogram.  Printed copies are also available from the microbiology laboratory.  

 

Etest® is a registered trademark of bioMerieux Inc.

 

 

Reference Range Information

Performing Location Reference Range
Marshfield Interpretive report

Marshfield Labs Performing Department

Marshfield Labs Microbiology

Performing Information

Performing Location Day(s) Test Performed Analytical Time Methodology/Instrumentation
Marshfield Monday through Sunday 3 days Manual or automated standardized susceptibility testing

CPT Codes

CPT Modifier
(if needed)		 Quantity Description Comments
87186   1 MIC susceptibility, micro-broth dilution As needed
87184   1 KB (disk) susceptbility As needed
87181   1 MIC susceptibility, Etest strip gradient As needed
87147   1 Typing, Agglutanation As needed

Outreach CPT Codes

CPT Modifier
(if needed)		 Quantity Description Comments
87186   1 MIC susceptibility, micro-broth dilution As needed
87184   1 KB (disk) susceptbility As needed
87181   1 MIC susceptibility, Etest strip gradient As needed
87147   1 Typing, Agglutanation As needed

Ordering Applications

Ordering Application Description
Cerner None