Fungal Culture Workup for Yeast only
POWERCHART ORDER – Fungal Culture -Yeast
Useful For
Candida species are responsible for the most frequently encountered opportunistic fungal infections. They have a unique ability to adhere to mucosal surfaces, particularly of the GI and GU tracts. While some other genera of yeasts may also be isolated from these sites (primarily Cryptococcus sp. Trichosporon sp, and Saccharomyces sp.), the Candida species are the yeasts primarily responsible for thrush, vaginitis and urinary tract infections. Also, though infections at these sites with filamentous fungi may occur, the incidence is extremely low.
Method Name
Culture
Aliases
Fungus-Yeast, Fungus Culture - Yeast, Yeast Culture, Fungal
Specimen Type
- Acceptable sites include upper respiratory specimens from the mouth, throat, and nares, and uro-genital sites from the urethra, vagina, cervix, labia, and vulva.
- Urine – collect as a “clean catch” as for the standard urine culture. Submit in a urine transport tube (preferable) or in a clean sterile container. Urine specimens not submitted in the stabilized transport tube must be kept refrigerated. Urine specimens are stable for 24 hours.
Specimen Required
- Urogenital specimens (vaginal/urethral) and upper respiratory specimens (mouth/nose/throat) using a culturette or E-swab.
- Collect urine in a vacutainer urine transport tube (gray top).
Specimen Minimum Volume
- 1 E-swab
- 1 mL of urine
Specimen Stability Information
- Transport at room temperature.
- E-swabs are stable for 48 hours after collection.
- Urine transport tubes are stable for 48 hours after collection.
*NOTE* Specimens that do not meet the above criteria will be rejected.
Rejected Due To
- Not transported at room temperature.
- E-swabs received after48 hours after collection.
- Urine transport tubes received after 48 hours collection.
Special Instructions
- Specimens must be labeled with complete source and body site information.
- Exam includes direct smear (gram stain).
- Cultures are primarily screened for the growth of yeast; however, any growth of filamentous fungi will also be reported.
- Cultures are held for a 1-week incubation period. Requests for fungal susceptibility testing require submittal of the isolate(s) to a reference laboratory.
- The physician must specify the antifungal agents to be tested.
- Yeast Screening Cultures may be ordered for Urine, Urogenital and Upper Respiratory specimens only.
- Any other body sites must be ordered under “Fungus Culture”.
- NOTE: Urine specimens not submitted in Vacutainer transport tubes are NOT optimal for culture as contaminants may overgrow and/or pathogens may die off. These specimens require refrigerated transport and storage and are only stable for 24 hours after collection.
Performing Laboratory
Glens Falls Hospital Microbiology Laboratory
Reference Values
No Growth Fungus After 1 week Incubation
Day(s) and Time(s) Performed
- Day Shift
- 7 days per week
Analytical Time
1 week
Specimen Retention Time
72 hours
Analytical Time
1 week