Laboratory Services
Gram Stain
Print this pageUpdated Test Information:
| Test Description |
Gram Stain
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Synonym(s) |
Gram Stain, Bacterial Smear, Gram Slide, Bacterial Stain |
|
| Test ID |
GS
|
|
| General Information |
Determine the presence or absence of microorganisms and white blood cells from clinical specimens, can also be used to evaluate the quality of the specimen. |
|
| Specimen Type |
Clinical Material |
|
| Specimen Requirements |
Bacterial Culture Transport Swab w/gel, Amies Transport swab, Eswab, Clinical material in a sterile container. Other transport systems also accepted. |
|
| Minimum Sample Volume |
Inoculated swab or visible material in sterile container |
|
| Additional Processing Details |
Gram stain is included with Wound, Ear, Eye, Sinus, Sputum, Genital, and Sterile Body fluid cultures |
|
| Stability |
Ambient: 48 hours |
|
| Unacceptable Specimen Conditions |
Unacceptable specimen transport device (including Incyte Swab, specimen in formalin, expired), improper labeling, prolonged delay in transport (greater than 48 hours) |
|
| Limitations |
Organism identification and susceptibility testing will only be performed if a culture is requested. Request for Gram stain will not reflex to a culture. Gram stain alone is not reliable for diagnosis of infection. |
|
| Methodology |
Manual stain |
|
| Estimated TAT |
1-2 days |
|
| Testing Schedule |
Monday-Saturday, & STAT |
|
| CPT Code(s) |
87205 |
|
| Reference Range |
Depends on specimen source. |
|
| Reflex Conditions |
None. Gram stain does NOT reflex to culture. |
|
| Performing Lab |
Incyte Diagnostics |
|
| LOINC Code(s) |
664-3 |
|
| Additional Information |
Gram stain is a general stain used extensively in microbiology for the preliminary differentiation of microbiological organisms. |
