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Culture, Bone Marrow

Bone Marrow Culture

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB5478

Department

Microbiology

Specimen Collection Criteria

• Collect (preferred specimen): Bone marrow in a pediatric Isolator tube [1.5 mL lysis centrifugation (Isolator) tube].
• Also acceptable: If the pediatric Isolator tube is unavailable, the following tubes are acceptable:
  
  • Sterile tubes containing SPS:
    • Can be used for bacterial, fungal, and mycobacterial culture.

    • Growth of fastidious organisms such as Streptococcus pneumoniae may be inhibited if placed in tubes containing SPS. 

  • Sterile tubes containing Lithium or Sodium Heparin:
    • Can be used for fungal and mycobacterial cultures.
    • Can not be used for bacterial culture.
  • Sterile, screw-capped tubes (not recommended):
    • Can be used for bacterial, fungal, and mycobacterial cultures.
    • The bone marrow will clot and will need to be emulsified prior to culture. This may adversely affect the ability to recover microorganisms (especially fungi).  

• All bone marrow specimens must be considered STAT. Transport immediately to the Laboratory for processing.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Maintain at room temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F) and arrange for STAT transportation to the Laboratory. Courier services must be contacted for a STAT pickup.

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: STAT in an acceptable collection container, at room temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F).

Rejection Criteria

• Unlabeled or improperly labeled specimens.
• Specimens in tubes containing EDTA.
• Specimens in non-sterile or leaking containers.
• Specimens delayed in transit (greater than 8 hours) will be tested with reporting at the discretion of the Microbiology Medical/Technical Director.

Inpatient Specimen Preparation

Transport specimen STAT at room temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F) to the Laboratory.

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 8 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:

Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 30 days

Laboratory

Dearborn Microbiology Laboratory
Taylor, Trenton and Wayne sent to Dearborn Microbiology Laboratory for testing.

Royal Oak Microbiology Laboratory
Farmington Hills, Grosse Pointe, and Troy sent to Royal Oak Microbiology Laboratory for testing.

Performed

Sunday – Saturday, 24 hours a day.
Preliminary results available within 24 hours.
Final results available in 5 days (bacterial) to several weeks (fungal and AFB).

Reference Range

No organisms recovered.

Test Methodology

Gram stain, culture and identification, susceptibility testing (if indicated).

Interpretation

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

Clinical Utility

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

Reference

1. Baron, E.J. and R.B. Thomson. 2011. Specimen Collection, Transport and Processing: Bacteriology. Manual of Clinical Microbiology, 9^th ed., American Society for Microbiology, Washington, D.C. pp. 228-271.

CPT Codes

87070 (Aerobic Culture), 87102 (Fungus Culture), 87116 (AFB Culture).
LOINC:  19126-2

Contacts

Last Updated

10/9/2023