Lab Dept:

Microbiology/Virology

Test Name:

BONE MARROW CULTURE

General Information

Lab Order Codes:

BMC

Synonyms:

Culture, Bone Marrow

CPT Codes:

87070 – Culture, bacterial; any other source except urine, blood or stool, with isolation and presumptive identification of isolates

The following testing may be added if appropriate based on findings for organism identification (multiple additions are possible if more than one organism is identified) and to aid in patient treatment management.

87076 – Anaerobic isolate, additional methods required for definitive identification of isolates
87077 – Aerobic isolate, additional methods required for definitive identification, each isolate (if appropriate)
87106 – Culture, fungi, definitive identification, each organism, yeast (if appropriate)
87107 – Culture, mold, definitive identification, each organism, mold (if appropriate)
87206 – Smear, primary source with interpretation, fluorescent and/or acid fast stain for bacteria, fungi or cell types (if appropriate)
87184 – Susceptibility studies, disk method, per plate (if appropriate)
87186 – Susceptibility studies, microdilution or agar dilution, each multi-antimicrobial, per plate (if appropriate)

Test Includes:

Aerobic culture and identification. Susceptibilities will be performed on significant isolates. All positive results are reported immediately by phone to the physician or patient’s nurse.

Logistics

Lab Testing Sections:

Microbiology

Phone Numbers:

Minneapolis:

Saint Paul:

612-813-5866

651-220-6555

Test Availability:

Daily, 24 hours

Turnaround Time:

Preliminary results are available at 24 hours; negative reports are final at 7 days.

Special Instructions:

Specific site and date/time of collection are required for specimen processing. Indicate suspected organisms and diagnosis. If a Mycobacterium sp. (AFB, TB) or fungus is suspected, request Blood Culture, AFB or Blood Culture, Fungus.

Specimen

Specimen Type:

Bone marrow

Container:

BACTEC^™ PEDS PLUS/F aerobic medium (pink cap)

Volume:

3.0 mL (Minimum: 0.5 mL) bone marrow

Collection:

1. Remove the plastic cap from the bottle, cleanse the stopper with 70 % alcohol and allow to dry.

2. Prepare puncture site as for surgical incision.

3. Collect 1 - 3 mL of bone marrow and aseptically inoculate the bottle using a blood transfer device or place an 18 gauge needle on syringe.

Transport/Storage:

Transport to the laboratory immediately at room temperature. Do not refrigerate.

Sample Rejection:

Specimen with a transit time exceeding 2 hours after collection; specimen not submitted in appropriate transport container; improperly labeled specimen; insufficient volume; external contamination. If an unacceptable specimen is received, the physician or nursing station will be notified and another specimen will be requested before the specimen is discarded.

Interpretive

Reference Range:

No growth

Critical Values:

All positive results are reported immediately by phone to the physician or patient’s nurse.

Methodology:

BACTEC FX/BACTEC^™ 9240, fluorescent series

References:

Cook, JH, and M Pezzlo (1992). Specimen receipt and accessioning. Section 1. Aerobic bacteriology, 1.2.1-4. In HD Isenberg (ed) Clinical Microbiology Procedures Handbook. American Society for Microbiology, Washington DC

Miller, J Michael (1999) A Guide To Specimen Management in Clinical Microbiology, American Society for Microbiology, Washington DC

Miller, J Michael, and HT Holmes (1999) Specimen Collection, Transport, and Storage In PR Murray et al, (ed), Manual of Clinical Microbiology, 7^th edition, American Society for Microbiology, Washington DC, pp 33-104

Updates:

3/23/2010: CPT Updates