Catheter Culture C CATH

Synonyms
Allscripts (AEHR) Order Name	Culture - Catheter
Sunrise Clinical Manager (SCM) Order Name	Culture - Catheter
EPIC Order Name	Catheter Culture
Clinical Info	Insertion of a catheter into a blood vessel compromises the skin’s ability to exclude organisms that colonize the surface of the skin. Devices such as heparin locks, hemodialysis shunts, TPN catheters, and arterial catheter lines expose patients to increased risk of infections. If catheter associated septicemia is suspected, it is important to document organism recovery from both blood culture and catheter tips. A semi-quantitative culture technique for catheter tips may aid the diagnosis of catheter related bacteremia.
Specimen Type	.Catheter
Container	Sterile container
Collection Instructions	1.Cleanse the skin around the site with 70% alcohol. 2. Remove catheter. 3. Aseptically clip off 3 cm to 5 cm of distal end of catheter. 4. Place catheter tip into a screw-capped, sterile container. 5. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen. 6. Transport to Northwell Health Laboratories –Little Neck Parkway refrigerated 7. Maintain sterility and forward promptly. Note: Specimen source is required on request form for processing.
Transport Instructions	Transport to Northwell Health Laboratories –Little Neck Parkway-refrigerated.
Specimen Stability	48 hours, refrigerated.
Methodology	Bacterial Culture
Days Performed	Monday through Saturday
Performing Laboratory	Northwell Health Laboratories
CPT	87070
PDM	6201306
Result Interpretation No growth
Forms