Culture, Aerobes and Anaerobes, Other w Gram Stain
ID: LAB1291
Last Review: 01/28/2026
Components
Culture Other w Anaerobes
Gram Stain
 
Specimen Sources
Abdominal
Abscess
Adrenal, Left
Adrenal, Right
Ankle
Antrum
Arm
Arm, Left
Arm, Right
Aspirate
Autopsy
Autopsy, Liver
Autopsy, Lung
Autopsy, Other
Autopsy, Spleen
Back
Bartholin's Gland Cyst
Bone
Bone Marrow
Bone Marrow, Aspirate
Bone Marrow, Clot
Brain
Breast
Breast, Left
Breast, Left Central
Breast, Left Lower Inner
Breast, Left Lower Outer
Breast, Left Upper Inner
Breast, Left Upper Outer
Breast, NOS
Breast, Right
Breast, Right Central
Breast, Right Lower Inner
Breast, Right Lower Outer
Breast, Right Upper Inner
Breast, Right Upper Outer
Bronchial Brush
Bronchus
Bursa
Bursa/Synovial Cyst
Buttocks
Calf
Capsule
Cardioplegia
CELLULITIS
Chest
Clot
Cranial Bone
CUL DE CENTESIS
Cul-De-Sac Aspirate
Cyst
Disc
Donor, Bronchus
Drainage
Elbow
Endometrial Aspirate
Endometrium
Epididymis
Esophageal Brush
Esophagus
Fallopian Tube
Fallopian Tube, Left
Fallopian Tube, Right
Fascia
Femoral
Femoral Head
Femur
Fetus
Fibula
Finger
Finger, Left
Finger, Right
Fistula
Flank
Foot
Foot, Left
Foot, Right
FOREARM
FOREHEAD
Gallbladder
Ganglion Cyst
GANGRENE
GLUTEAL
Graft
Hand
Hand, Left
Hand, Right
Head
Heart
Heart Valve
Heel
Hematoma
Hernia Sac, Left Inguinal
Hernia Sac, Right Inguinal
Hip
Humerus
Hydatid of Morgagni
Hydrocele Sac
Iliac Crest, Left
Iliac Crest, Right
Implant
Intrauterine Device
Joint, Elbow
Joint, Finger
Joint, Knee
Joint, Left Elbow
Joint, Left Finger
Joint, Left Hip
Joint, Left Knee
Joint, Left Shoulder
Joint, Left Wrist
Joint, Other
Joint, Right Elbow
Joint, Right Finger
Joint, Right Hip
Joint, Right Knee
Joint, Right Shoulder
Joint, Right Wrist
Joint, Shoulder
Joint, Wrist
Joint,AC
Kidney
Kidney, Left
Kidney, Right
Knee
Leg
Leg, Left
Leg, Right
Lesion
Liver
Lung
Lung, Left Lower Lobe
Lung, Left Upper Lobe
Lung, Right Lower Lobe
Lung, Right Middle Lobe
Lung, Right Upper Lobe
Lymph Node
Lymph Node, Regional Resection
Lymph Node, Sentinel
Lymphocele
Marlex Mesh
MASS
Mediastinum
Meninges
Meningomyelocele
Meniscus
Mesentery
Middle Ear Fluid
Misc Source
Mucocele, Salivary
Muscle
Myocardium
Neck
Nephric
Nephrostomy
Nerve
Neuroma
NIPPLE
Node
Nodule
Odontogenic/Dental Cyst
Omentum
Other
Ovarian
OVARY
Ovary, Left
Ovary, Right
Pacemaker
Pancreas
Paraspinous
Parathyroid
Pelvic
PELVIS
Penile
Penile Implant
Penis
Pericardial
Pericardium
Peritoneum
Peritonsillar
Pilondial Cyst/Sinus
Pituitary
Placenta
Pleura
Pleural, Left
Pleural, Right
Prostate
Protected Bronch Brush
Pump Space
Pus
Radius
Recipient
Recipient, Bronchus
RENAL PELVIS
RETROPERITONEAL
Sacral
Scrotum
Shoulder
Sinus
Sinus, Bilateral
Sinus, Inferior Turbinate
Sinus, Left Ethmoid
Sinus, Left Frontal
Sinus, Left Maxillary
Sinus, Left Middle Meatus
Sinus, Left Sphenoid
Sinus, Middle Turbinate
Sinus, Paranasal
Sinus, Right Ethmoid
Sinus, Right Frontal
Sinus, Right Maxillary
Sinus, Right Middle Meatus
Sinus, Right Sphenoid
Sinus, Superior Turbinate
SPINE
Spleen
Sternal
Stump
Subcutaneous
Subphrenic
Tendon/Tendon Sheath
Testicle
Testis, Left
Testis, Right
Thigh
Thoracic
Thrombus/Embolus
Thumb
Thymus
Thyroglossal Duct/Branchial Cleft Cyst
Thyroid
Tibia
TISSUE OTHER
Toe
Toe, Left
Toe, Right
Tympanocentesis Fluid
Ulna
Umbilical
Ureter
Ureter, Left
Ureter, Right
Uterine
Uterus
Valve
Vegetation
Vertebra
Wound
WOUND OTHER
Wrist
Xenograft
Collection Requirements
ACCEPTABLE SPECIMENS:  deep wound aspirate, pus, CT guided aspirates, surgical sinus aspirate,  tympanocentesis fluid, AV shunt tips and peritoneal end of VP shunt, IUD, infected gortex grafts

Collect specimen as follows:

FLUID/PUS
1. Decontaminate skin with povidone iodine.
2. Using sterile technique aspirate fluid/pus with needle and syringe.  Use CT-guided aspiration in appropriate cases.
3. Expel air bubbles before injecting at least 1 mL of aspirated fluid/pus into an Anaerobe Systems Transport tube (AS tube). 

TRANSTRACHEAL ASPIRATION: 
1. Cleanse and anesthetize skin.
2. Insert a large bore needle through skin of the neck and the cricothyroid membrane into the trachea.
3. Pass a small sterile catheter through the needle, and aspirate exudate
4. Transfer exudate into an Anaerobe Systems Transport Tube (AS Tube).
NOTE: Serious complications have been noted with the transtracheal procedure.

IUD
1. Visualize cervix with speculum without lubricant.
2. Remove mucous and/or secretions from cervix with swab and discard.
3. Remove IUD while attempting to avoid contaminating vaginal secretions.
4. Submit entire device in a sterile, screw-capped container.
NOTE: IUD's should be sent for culture ONLY when infection with ""actinomyces-like"" organisms is suspected.

1. Indicate source of specimen on request form.
2. Swabs are discouraged due to lack of utility.
3. Bacterial, AFB, and fungal cultures may be ordered on a single specimen if sufficient volume is submitted.
Shipping And Handling
Anaerobic specimen containers (AS Tubes) transported via the pneumatic tube station are prone to breaking.  Do not place more than one tube per bag.  Use additional packing material (foam sleeve) if sending via the pneumatic tube station otherwise send via a courier.  
DO NOT REFRIGERATE.
DELIVER IMMEDIATELY TO MICROBIOLOGY IN A TIGHTLY SEALED CONTAINER WITH NO EXTERNAL SPILLAGE.
Turn Around Time (TATs for Specific Labs Below May Differ)
Turn Around Time:
  • ASAP: 7 Day(s)
  • STAT: 7 Day(s)
  • ROUTINE: 7 Day(s)
Performing Labs, Collection Containers and TATs
▷  DHLN Clinical Laboratory
▷  Duke Microbiology Laboratory
Clinical Indications
Used to identify the etiologic agent(s) of infection.
Clinical Significance
Infection may occur in any organ or tissue of the body, and the types of infectious processes are many. These include the following: brain abscess, chronic otitis media and sinusitis, dental and oral infections, aspiration pneumonia, lung abscess, thoracic empyema, breast abscess, liver, subphrenic, and other intra-abdominal abscesses, appendicitis and diverticulitis and their complications, peritonitis, wound infections following bowel surgery or trauma, puerperal or postabortal sepsis, endometritis, tubo-ovarian abscess, perirectal abscess, necrotizing skin and soft tissue infections, gas-forming cellulitis, gas gangrene (anaerobic myonecrosis), and bacteremia.

Infections in these sites are usually caused by a mixture of both anaerobic and aerobic bacteria. Interpretation of heavily mixed cultures may be difficult. 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.

Transtracheal aspirate: Small quantities of oropharyngeal flora may be present (<1000 colonies/ml). Large quantities (>1000 colonies/ml) are considered consistent with infection.

IUD's are contaminated with normal vaginal flora. Culture is performed only to screen for presence of Actinomyces.
Limitations
Transtracheal aspiration is used to aid in the diagnosis of serious pneumonia or pulmonary infections where other noninvasive studies are inconclusive and anaerobic infection is suspected.

IUD culture is useful only to screen for presence of Actinomyces in symptomatic patients.
Methodology
Gram stain and culture for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria.
Includes identification and susceptibility testing when appropriate at additional charges.
CPT coding cannot be determined before the culture is completed.
Additional Information
Communication with Clinical Microbiology (684-2089) is necessary when unusual organisms such as Brucella, Bartonella, Actinomyces, Norcardia,or Legionella are suspected as special culture conditions and prolonged incubation may be required.
Critical Values
No Critical Values