Bacterial Culture from Balanced Salt Solution (BSS) or Other Transport Medium
This test checks for the presence of bacteria in a sample collected in a sterile transport medium, often used to prepare stool or other specimens for microbiological analysis.
["Helps identify possible infections by detecting bacteria in your sample."]
Key facts at a glance
- LOINC
- 105610-0
- Short code
- BALCULT
- Synonyms
- Bacteria # BAL Cult
- Category
- chemistry
- Sample
- serum
- Container
- Sterile, leak-proof, screw-cap container; sterile transport medium or saline should be avoided unless specified. Specimen must be transported in a sterile BAL collection container.
- Units
- N/A
- Fasting
- false
- Population
- adult
- Sex
- all
- Age range
- 0–120 years
- Method
- culture
- CPT
- 87071-Quantitative culture, aerobic; quantitative, with isolation and presumptive identification of each isolate (additional CPT codes may apply for identification and susceptibility testing of specific organisms, e.g., 87077 for aerobic susceptibility, 87140 for culture typing, 87181 for susceptibility gradient strip, 87186 for MIC susceptibility, 87147 for serotyping)
- SNOMED
- 441829007 | Bacterial culture of bronchoalveolar lavage sample (procedure) |; 308200009 | Number of bacteria identified (observable entity) |; 258420001 | Colony forming unit per milliliter (qualifier value)
- Specimen volume
- Minimum 5-10 mL of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid; ideally ≥10 mL for optimal culture yield. Larger volumes (20-50 mL) may be collected in serial fractions, with the first fraction typically used for cytology/cell count and pooled fractions used for microbiology.
- Stability
- Specimen should be processed within 2 hours of collection at room temperature. If processing is delayed, refrigerate at 2-8°C for up to 24 hours. Do not freeze. For fastidious organisms, immediate processing is preferred.
- Hemolysis max
- 500
- Lipemia max
- 1000
- Icterus max
- 500
- TAT
- 48–168 hours
- Order
- routine
What This Test Does
A bacterial culture helps doctors determine if bacteria are growing in your sample. This can guide treatment decisions, such as whether antibiotics are needed. The test is particularly useful for diagnosing infections in stool, wounds, or other body fluids.
How the Test Works
Your sample is placed in a sterile medium and incubated to allow bacteria to grow. After a few days, the lab checks for bacterial colonies. If bacteria are found, they may be identified further through additional testing.
Common Uses
Doctors may order this test if you have symptoms like diarrhea, fever, or signs of infection. It’s often used for diagnosing gastrointestinal infections, urinary tract infections, or other bacterial illnesses.
Sample Collection
You’ll provide a sample (like stool, urine, or wound discharge) collected in a sterile container. The lab will process it to detect bacterial growth.
Reference range
No bacterial growth detected in clinically significant quantities. Reference ranges are not standardized; results are reported semiquantitatively as colony-forming units per milliliter (CFU/mL). Generally, growth ≥10^4 CFU/mL of a single organism is considered clinically significant in bronchoalveolar lavage specimens, though interpretation depends on clinical context, specimen quality, and the specific organism isolated.N/A
Informed consent required for bronchoscopy procedure. Patient should fast for at least 6 hours prior to the procedure to reduce aspiration risk. Pre-procedure assessment includes review of allergies, anticoagulant use, and respiratory status. Sedation may be administered per institutional protocol.
Clinical interpretation
How abnormal results are interpreted and what conditions they suggest.
Clinical Significance
Short name
Bacterial Culture
Frequently asked questions
Why might this test be important?
How long does it take to get results?
What if bacteria are found?
Sources
- 1
- 2Lab Tests OnlineSource
- 3
Click any link to access the full source. PubMed Central (PMC) links provide free full-text access.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
This content is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you have about a medical condition, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you read here.
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Medically reviewed by WellAlly Editorial Team Last reviewed August 16, 2026. · Read our editorial policy