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HelpBAL (Bronchoalveolar Lavage) Semiquant Culture*
Performing Laboratory
Rutland Regional Medical Center Laboratory
Specimen Requirements
Specimen must arrive within 15 minutes of collection.
Specimen Type: Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL)
Container/Tube: Sterile container
Specimen Volume: >1 mL
Collection Instructions:
1. Aseptically collect BAL.
2. Place aspirate in a sputum trap
3. 40-80 ml of fluid needed for quantitative analysis.
Additional Information:
1. Specimen source is required.
2. See Microbiology Specimen Collection Guidelines in Special Instructions for additional information.
Specimen Transport Temperature
Ambient/Refrigerated NO/Frozen NO
Day(s) Performed
Monday through Sunday
Analytical Time:
2 days
Test Classification and CPT Coding
CPT: 87071-Culture
87205-Gram stain
LOINC: 43441-5
Result Name: BAL Semiquant Culture
Order Code: RMCCBAL
Result Code: RMCL800077
Methodology
Semiquantitative culture
Gram Stain
Reference Values
No growth
Identification of probable pathogens