Viral Culture, Rapid, Influenza A and Influenza B

Test ID: 

705915

CPT code:

87254 (x2)

Synonyms:

Culture, Viral, Influenza Virus

Flu Culture

Influenza Virus Culture

Clinical Use:

Isolate and identify influenza virus as an etiologic agent in cases of influenza and viral pneumonia

Specimen Type:

Throat or nasopharyngeal (NP) swab or wash, sputum, bronchial washings, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL)

Container Type: 

Viral transport medium for swabs

Collection:

Throat swab: Carefully rub the posterior wall of the nasopharynx with a dry, sterile swab. Avoid touching the tongue or buccal mucosa. Place swab in viral transport tube.

Storage Instructions:

Specimens should be placed into viral transport medium and kept cold at all times. Do not freeze specimens.

Rejection Criteria

Bacterial swab specimen; specimen received in grossly leaking transport container; dry specimen; specimen submitted in fixative or additive; specimen received in expired transport medium or incorrect transport device; inappropriate specimen transport conditions; specimen received after prolonged delay in transport (usually more than 72 hours); wooden shaft swab in transport device; unlabeled specimen or name discrepancy between specimen and test request label