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Test Code SSF1 Nocardia Stain, Varies

Reporting Name

Nocardia Stain

Useful For

Detecting Nocardia species and other partially-acid fast aerobic actinomycetes in clinical specimens

Reflex Tests

Test ID Reporting Name Available Separately Always Performed
TISSR Tissue Processing No, (Bill Only) No

Method Name

Modified Acid-Fast Stain

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

Specimen Type

Varies


Necessary Information


Specimen source is required.



Specimen Required


Container/Tube: Sterile container

Specimen Volume: 0.2 mL

Collection Instructions: Collect a raw specimen.


Specimen Minimum Volume

See Specimen Required

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Varies Refrigerated (preferred) 7 days
  Ambient  7 days

Reject Due To

Blood
Bone marrow
Fixed tissue
Viral transport media (including but not limited to M4, M5, BD viral transport media, thioglycolate broth)
Environmental specimen
Wood shaft or charcoal swab
Prepared slides, glass slides, microscope slides		 Reject
 

Reference Values

Reported as positive or negative

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Sunday

CPT Code Information

87206

87176-Tissue processing (if appropriate)

LOINC Code Information

Test ID Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
SSF1 Nocardia Stain 21003-9

 

Result ID Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
SSF1 Nocardia Stain In Process

Test Classification

This test has been cleared, approved, or is exempt by the US Food and Drug Administration and is used per manufacturer's instructions. Performance characteristics were verified by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements.

Report Available

1 to 2 days

Specimen Retention Time

Raw specimens: 2 to14 days

Forms

If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send a Microbiology Test Request (T244) with the specimen.

Clinical Information

Nocardia species and other aerobic actinomycetes can cause significant disease in immunocompromised patients. Clinical presentations can include, but are not limited to, pneumonia, skin abscess, bacteremia, brain abscess, eye infection, and joint infection.

 

The modified acid-fast stain can detect Nocardia species and other partially-acid fast aerobic actinomycetes directly from clinical specimens.

Interpretation

Patients whose specimens are reported as partially acid-fast positive should be considered potentially infected with Nocardia species or other aerobic actinomycetes, pending definitive diagnosis by molecular methods or culture.

Cautions

Artifacts may exhibit nonspecific staining and be confused with organisms. Not all aerobic actinomycetes stain as partially acid-fast. A negative stain does not rule out the possibility of infection and culture should be performed. Nocardia species and other aerobic actinomycetes grow well on mycobacterial culture medium so CTB / Mycobacteria and Nocardia Culture, Varies should be ordered. Sometimes, Nocardia species can also be recovered in fungal cultures (FGEN / Fungal Culture, Routine).

Method Description

Modified acid-fast stain. This method uses carbolfuchsin stain (Kinyoun method) with a milder decolorization step for detection of Nocardia species.(Atlas R, Snyder J. Reagents, stains and media: Bacteriology. In: Carrol KC, Pfaller MA, Landry ML, et al, eds. Manual of Clinical Microbiology, 12th ed. ASM Press; 2019:331-361)