Ordering Recommendations

  1. Specimen source is required to be included as part of the order in EPIC or on the manual requisition.
  2. Indicate if Malassezia furfur is suspected. Special growth conditions are required for the cultivation of this yeast.
  3. If Histoplasma, Coccidioides, or Blastomyces is suspected, notify the laboratory.
  4. There are other related fungal tests available for ordering. Order test according to source type:
  • Blood/Bone Marrow: Fungal Blood Culture (CXAFF, CXFBM)
  • Oral, Vaginal, Urine: Yeast Culture (CXYST)
  • Skin, Hair and Nails: Fungal Culture, KOH (CXFNS, KOHSH)
  • All Other Sources: Fungal Culture (CXFUN)
  • Rule-Out C. auris: Candida auris PCR (CANAT)

Tests Included

  1. Results include colony prevalence of yeast and molds
  2. Identification will be performed for significant isolates
  3. Limited yeast identification will be performed for non-sterile sites
  4. Susceptibilities are not routinely performed, but can be requested
  • First Cryptococcal and Candida isolates from CSF will have susceptibilities performed
  1. Identification and susceptibility tests are billed separately from culture

Performed

Daily

Methodology

Standard reference procedures for culture and identification of fungal microorganisms

Reported

Preliminary: No fungal growth to date
  • 1 - 2 Weeks: Cultures are examined daily
  • 3 - 4 Weeks: Cultures are examined at least once a week
Final (Negative): 28 days

Positives: Results are reported as soon as detected. Susceptibilities are not routinely performed.
     *First Cryptococcal and Candida isolates from CSF will have susceptibilities performed

Synonyms

  • Routine Fungal Culture
  • Fungal Culture, Routine
  • Culture, Fungus
  • Fungus Culture
  • Mycology Culture
  • Culture, Mycology
  • Mold Culture
  • Culture, Mold
  • Mould Culture
  • Culture, Mould
  • Mycology
  • Microbiology Laboratory

Performing Lab

Microbiology

Add-on Eligibility

Yes, within 7 days of collection
*Specimens are stored for a maximum of 7 days

Susceptibility Requests: Submit an ADSEN order through EPIC. Approved requests for mold susceptibilities will be sent to a reference lab for testing.

Specimen Type

Most specimen types can be submitted for Fungal Culture. Some common specimens include, but are not limited to:
Sputum
Bronchial washing
Tracheal aspirate
Body fluids
Body sites
Tissues
Biopsies
Aspirates

Swabs
  • Throat (CF patients only)
  • Wound
  • Abscess
  • Lesion
  • Eye

Specimen Volume

Fluid: 1 mL
Swab: Any amount

Collection Container

  1. Sterile Container
 
OR
 
  1. Syringe with needle removed
 
OR
 
  1. Copan eSwab

Unacceptable Conditions

  1. Catheter tips
  2. Urine, throat, oral, genital, or rectal sources
  • Sputum or throat swabs are acceptable from Cystic Fibrosis patients
  1. More than one sputum specimen within 24 hours
  2. Specimens that have been improperly collected, stored, or transported
  • Frozen specimens
  • Specimen not received within 7 days of collection
  • Specimens that arrive in leaky containers
  1. Unlabeled or mislabeled specimens

Storage/Transport Temperature

Transport Instructions    
Collection Location Transport Temperature Timeframe
ED/Inpatient Room Temperature Specimen must be received by the lab within 1 week of collection
Laboratory/Outpatient/Off-Site Room Temperature Specimen must be received by the lab within 1 week of collection

Storage: Refrigerated

Stability (from collection to initiation)

Stability:
  • Room Temperature: 24 hours
  • Refrigerated: 1 week
  • Frozen: Unacceptable

Laboratory Storage: Refrigerated
Laboratory Retention: 7 days

Remarks

Swab specimens may have reduced organism recovery when compared to other specimen types

Collection Instructions

Labeling Instructions:
  1. When labeling tubes, ensure that the barcode is in the correct orientation and not covering important information.
  2. Include the specimen source on the label, especially if multiple sources are submitted simultaneously.

Collection Instructions:
Refer to the following resource for specimen collection instructions for microbiology testing:

Reference Interval

No Fungal Growth
Ordering

Ordering Recommendations

  1. Specimen source is required to be included as part of the order in EPIC or on the manual requisition.
  2. Indicate if Malassezia furfur is suspected. Special growth conditions are required for the cultivation of this yeast.
  3. If Histoplasma, Coccidioides, or Blastomyces is suspected, notify the laboratory.
  4. There are other related fungal tests available for ordering. Order test according to source type:
  • Blood/Bone Marrow: Fungal Blood Culture (CXAFF, CXFBM)
  • Oral, Vaginal, Urine: Yeast Culture (CXYST)
  • Skin, Hair and Nails: Fungal Culture, KOH (CXFNS, KOHSH)
  • All Other Sources: Fungal Culture (CXFUN)
  • Rule-Out C. auris: Candida auris PCR (CANAT)

Tests Included

  1. Results include colony prevalence of yeast and molds
  2. Identification will be performed for significant isolates
  3. Limited yeast identification will be performed for non-sterile sites
  4. Susceptibilities are not routinely performed, but can be requested
  • First Cryptococcal and Candida isolates from CSF will have susceptibilities performed
  1. Identification and susceptibility tests are billed separately from culture

Performed

Daily

Methodology

Standard reference procedures for culture and identification of fungal microorganisms

Reported

Preliminary: No fungal growth to date
  • 1 - 2 Weeks: Cultures are examined daily
  • 3 - 4 Weeks: Cultures are examined at least once a week
Final (Negative): 28 days

Positives: Results are reported as soon as detected. Susceptibilities are not routinely performed.
     *First Cryptococcal and Candida isolates from CSF will have susceptibilities performed

Synonyms

  • Routine Fungal Culture
  • Fungal Culture, Routine
  • Culture, Fungus
  • Fungus Culture
  • Mycology Culture
  • Culture, Mycology
  • Mold Culture
  • Culture, Mold
  • Mould Culture
  • Culture, Mould
  • Mycology
  • Microbiology Laboratory

Performing Lab

Microbiology

Add-on Eligibility

Yes, within 7 days of collection
*Specimens are stored for a maximum of 7 days

Susceptibility Requests: Submit an ADSEN order through EPIC. Approved requests for mold susceptibilities will be sent to a reference lab for testing.
Collection

Specimen Type

Most specimen types can be submitted for Fungal Culture. Some common specimens include, but are not limited to:
Sputum
Bronchial washing
Tracheal aspirate
Body fluids
Body sites
Tissues
Biopsies
Aspirates

Swabs
  • Throat (CF patients only)
  • Wound
  • Abscess
  • Lesion
  • Eye

Specimen Volume

Fluid: 1 mL
Swab: Any amount

Collection Container

  1. Sterile Container
 
OR
 
  1. Syringe with needle removed
 
OR
 
  1. Copan eSwab

Unacceptable Conditions

  1. Catheter tips
  2. Urine, throat, oral, genital, or rectal sources
  • Sputum or throat swabs are acceptable from Cystic Fibrosis patients
  1. More than one sputum specimen within 24 hours
  2. Specimens that have been improperly collected, stored, or transported
  • Frozen specimens
  • Specimen not received within 7 days of collection
  • Specimens that arrive in leaky containers
  1. Unlabeled or mislabeled specimens

Storage/Transport Temperature

Transport Instructions    
Collection Location Transport Temperature Timeframe
ED/Inpatient Room Temperature Specimen must be received by the lab within 1 week of collection
Laboratory/Outpatient/Off-Site Room Temperature Specimen must be received by the lab within 1 week of collection

Storage: Refrigerated

Stability (from collection to initiation)

Stability:
  • Room Temperature: 24 hours
  • Refrigerated: 1 week
  • Frozen: Unacceptable

Laboratory Storage: Refrigerated
Laboratory Retention: 7 days

Remarks

Swab specimens may have reduced organism recovery when compared to other specimen types

Collection Instructions

Labeling Instructions:
  1. When labeling tubes, ensure that the barcode is in the correct orientation and not covering important information.
  2. Include the specimen source on the label, especially if multiple sources are submitted simultaneously.

Collection Instructions:
Refer to the following resource for specimen collection instructions for microbiology testing:
Result Interpretation

Reference Interval

No Fungal Growth

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