Lab Test

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Helicobacter pylori Culture with Reflex to Susceptibility

H pylori

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB1232290, Beaker: Hpylori Cult, Quest: 36994

Department

Send Outs

Instructions

Due to specimens having a 48-hour window of stability, patients can be collected Monday – Thursday morning only.

Specimens are best collected in the morning to be received in the RO Send Outs Lab prior to 1:30 pm and sent to Quest Lab the same day. Specimens received after 1:30 pm will be held and sent the next day. Testing may be cancelled if specimen lapses stability. For Friday collections which will not be received before 1:30 pm will need to be collected in glycerol as indicated below and frozen -70°C.

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect (preferred specimen): 3.0 mm Gastric/Antral or Duodenal biopsy collected in Brucella broth or Trypticase Soy Broth (TSB) with 10-20% glycerol.

Also acceptable: Gastric/Antral or Duodenal brushings collected in sterile non-bacteriostatic saline or broth with or without glycerol.

NOTE: Indicate what solution the specimen is in. If not indicated testing will be delayed and risks cancellation.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Maintain specimen in original collection tube according to solution below prior to transport:

Brucella broth or equivalent with glycerol: Frozen -70°C.

Broth with or without glycerol, or sterile non-bacteriostatic saline: Refrigerated (cold packs).

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: Gastric Biopsy in sterile container according to solution below prior to transport:

Brucella broth or equivalent with glycerol: Frozen -70°C.

Broth with or without glycerol, or sterile non-bacteriostatic saline: Refrigerated (cold packs).

Rejection Criteria

  • Specimens not collected and processed as indicated.
  • Transport swab with or without gel.
  • Stool.

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Specimens with glycerol
Room temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): Unacceptable
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 48 hours
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): Unacceptable
Frozen (-70°C/-94°F or below): 5 days

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

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Specimen retention time is determined by the policy of the reference laboratory. Contact the Send Outs Laboratory with any questions.

Laboratory

Sent to Quest Diagnostics, Wood Dale, IL.

Performed

Daily.
Results available in 8-10 days.

Reference Range

By report.

Test Methodology

Culture

Interpretation

By report.

CPT Codes

87081, 87205

Contacts

Last Updated

1/29/2026

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