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Genital Culture

Vaginal, cervical, urethral

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB1231034

Department

Microbiology

Instructions

• For prenatal screening, please see Group B Strep Screen and Chlamydia/Gonococcus PCR (LAB1230885).
• For biopsy specimens, please see Tissue Culture. 
• If Neisseria gonorrhoeae is suspected:
1. The preferred detection method is Gonococcus PCR (LAB1230887), as the sensitivity of PCR is higher than that of culture for N. gonorrhoeae.
2. If drug resistance is of concern, or if performing a test of cure, collect a cervical swab (female) or urethral swab (male) and place in the ESwab transport system or Amies charcoal media (preferred). Please refer to Gonorrhoeae Culture. It is imperative that the specimen be received by the laboratory within 2 hours of collection if using the ESwab transport system or within 48 hours of collection if using Amies charcoal media for specimen transport.

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect: Aseptically collect one of the following specimens:

• Cervical, urethral, vaginal, penile, seminal fluid, or labia swab specimen submitted in a transport system with Amies (e.g. ESwab or Culturette) or Charcoal Amies media.
• Seminal fluid in a sterile collection container.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Do NOT refrigerate specimen. Maintain at room temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F) and transport to the Laboratory within 48 hours of collection.

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: Swab specimen in ESwab transport system or Amies charcoal medium, at room temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F).

Rejection Criteria

• Specimens submitted on dry swabs or not in the listed transport media.
• Specimens delayed in transit (greater than 48 hours from the time of collection).
• Specimens sent refrigerated.

Inpatient Specimen Preparation

Immediately transport specimens to the Laboratory for processing.

In-Lab Processing

Do NOT refrigerate specimen. Maintain at room temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F) prior to testing.

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 48 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): Unacceptable
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): Unacceptable

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 4 days

Laboratory

Royal Oak Microbiology Laboratory

Performed

Sunday – Saturday, 24 hours a day.
Preliminary results available within 48–72 hours.

Reference Range

No pathogens recovered.

Test Methodology

Aerobic culture, identification, and susceptibility testing (if indicated).

Interpretation

The recovery of a bacteria from an appropriate, properly collected specimen may be indicative of an infectious disease process.

Clinical Utility

This test is used to recover and identify aerobic bacteria that may be involved in human infections.

Disease Reporting

Neisseria gonorrhoeae positive cultures are reportable to MDHHS per Michigan Law.

Reference

1. Vandamme, P.A.R. 2015. Specimen Collection, Transport, and Processing: Bacteriology. Jorgensen, J.H., Editor-in-Chief. Manual of Clinical Microbiology. 11^th edition. ASM Press. Washington, D.C., p. 228-272.
2. Linscott, A.J., 2016. Specimen Collection, Transport, and Acceptability. Clinical Microbiology Procedure Handbook. 4^th ed. Leber, A.L. (ed), ASM Press. Washington, D.C., Section 2.1.
3. Carson, J.A., 2016. Wound/Abscess and Soft Tissue Cultures. Clinical Microbiology Procedure Handbook, 4^th ed. Leber, A.L., (ed), ASM Press. Washington, D.C., Section 3.13.

CPT Codes

87070, 87088 (if indicated).
LOINC:  10352-3

Contacts

Last Updated

8/28/2025