Used to identify the etiologic agent of infection. Aerobic bacteria cause a variety of human infections. Proper specimen collection and transport, media and incubation are important criteria for the recovery of aerobes.

This is a general culture code to be used when a specific code is not available for the specimen or request and anaerobes are not appropriate. Specimens are generally swabs, not transported in an AS tube, superficial or non-sterile sources..

Culture of fluid collected from JP Drain in place more than 2 days yield inaccurate results in nearly half of cases compared with direct image-guided.
Swab collection devices are not considered the best sample, tissue or aspirate is considered superior to swab collection.
If suspicious of anaerobic bacteria (foul odor, pus or gas production) please collect deep aspirate or tissue in an AS Tube for culture and order Aerobic and Anaerobic culture.

Culture results on specimens that may be colonized with normal flora are difficult to interpret. Guidelines for identification and susceptibility testing of isolates are based on specimen source, method of collection, and numbers of different isolates and specific potential pathogens present.

Test methodology includes direct Gram stain, identification of pathogens, and susceptibility testing when appropriate. 
General CPT code is associated with culture order, additional CPT codes based on growth of organism will not be determined before the culture is completed.

Contact the Clinical Microbiology when rule out of unusual organism is suspected as special culture conditions may be required for recovery, or special send out cultures are necessary.