Bacillus anthracis Culture !!! NOTE: The contents are valid only for: 11/03/2025 !!!
| WSLH Department: | CDD - Communicable Disease Division |
| WSLH Test Code: | MP00330 |
| Day(s) Performed: | Daily, Monday - Saturday |
| Turn-around Time: | 2-5 Days |
| Recommended Uses: | To identify infection caused by Bacillus anthracis. |
| Pre-approval: | Yes, please contact CDD Customer Service at (800)-862-1013 prior to submission |
| Contraindications: | Patient does not have signs or symptoms of anthrax. |
| Additional Tests Performed: |
Isolates consistent with B. anthracis will be automatically confirmed by RT-PCR. |
| Preparation for Collection: | |
| Specimen Requirements: | Swab of lesion or eschar in sterile saline or bacterial transport medium; tissue; positive blood culture bottle; sputum; or isolated colony |
| Collection Instructions: | |
| Collection Kit/Container: |
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| Requisition Form: |
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| Required Information: | Please include all pertinent clinical information and exposure history. Laboratory regulations require the following minimum information to be provided on the requisition form for a specimen to be accepted for testing: Patient name or unique identifier, date and time of collection, patient date of birth and sex, specimen type/site of collection, test request(s), clinician name and UPIN, and address for reporting results. Please be certain that name/identifier on the form matches that on the specimen label which is required to have a minimum of two identifiers. |
| Rejection Criteria: | Formalinized tissue and specimens in viral transport media are unacceptable for B. anthracis culture. |
| Specimen Handling: | Transport to the laboratory as soon as possible. Store specimens at refrigerated temperature (2-8°C) and ship with frozen cold packs. Ship blood culture bottles at room temperature. |
| Packaging Requirements: | |
| Courier Information: | Contact Purple Mountain Dispatch at 800-990-9668 for specimen pick up. |
| Specimen Receiving Hours: | Monday-Friday 6:00 AM - 4:30 PM, Saturday 6:30 AM - 12:30 PM |
| Results Include: | Negative for B. anthracis Bacillus anthracis detected |
| Limitations: | Organisms other than B. anthracis will not be identified. |
| Additional Tests Recommended: | |
| Additional Comments: | B. anthracis is a Select Agent under Federal regulations and must be reported to the CDC Select Agent Program. |
| Methodology: | Bacterial culture with RT-PCR confirmation |
| Includes: | Culture and identification of B. anthracis from clinical specimens and isolates. |
| Regulatory Compliance: | |
| CPT Code: | 87081 |
| Price: | $61.00 |
| Fee Exempt Eligible: | Yes, all testing for clinical purposes is fee exempt |
| Billing and Revenue Office: | 1-800-862-1065 arbill@slh.wisc.edu |