Legionella Culture and Legionella pneumophila, DFA

TEST: 188227
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CPT: 87070; 87278
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Synonyms

  • Legionella Culture and Stain

Test Includes

Direct fluorescent assay for the detection of Legionella pneumophila and culture for Legionella species. CPT coding for microbiology and virology procedures often cannot be determined before the culture is performed.

Expected Turnaround Time

7 - 16 days

Turnaround time is defined as the usual number of days from the date of pickup of a specimen for testing to when the result is released to the ordering provider. In some cases, additional time should be allowed for additional confirmatory or additional reflex tests. Testing schedules may vary.

Related Information

Related Documents

Specimen Requirements

Specimen

Lung tissue, transtracheal aspirate, pleural fluid, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, sputum

Volume

1 mL lung biopsy (frozen), transtracheal aspirate, pleural fluid; 5 mL bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid; 5 mL sputum

Minimum Volume

1 mL fluid (Note: This volume does not allow for repeat testing.)

Container

Sterile container

Storage Instructions

Maintain specimen at 2°C to 8°C.

Causes for Rejection

Swab specimen; inappropriate specimen transport device; unlabeled specimen or name discrepancy between specimen and request label; specimen received after prolonged delay (usually more than 72 hours); specimen received in expired transport; environmental water samples such as air conditioning/cooling towers

Test Details

Use

Determine the presence of Legionella pneumophila organisms by a combination of culture and direct FA smear of specimen, providing a rapid and sensitive diagnosis

Methodology

Culture; direct fluorescent antibody (DFA)

Additional Information

See table.

Clinical Clues to the Diagnosis of Legionnaires' Disease

Adapted from Harrison TG, Taylor AG. Timing of seroconversion in Legionnaires' disease. Lancet. 1988 Oct 1; 2(8614):795.

Gram stain of respiratory secretions reveals numerous neutrophils, but few organisms

Presence of hyponatremia (serum sodium ≤130 mmol/L)

Failure to respond to β-lactam and aminoglycoside antibiotics

Occurrence in hospital where potable water system is known to be contaminated with Legionella

History of smoking and alcohol use

Pleuritic chest pain

Fever, malaise, myalgia, headache

LOINC® Map

Order Code Order Code Name Order Loinc Result Code Result Code Name UofM Result LOINC
188227 Legionella pneumophila/Culture 88585-5 085506 Legionella pneumophila DFA 89594-6
188227 Legionella pneumophila/Culture 88585-5 086868 Legionella Species Culture 88585-5
Reflex Table for Legionella Species Culture
Order Code Order Name Result Code Result Name UofM Result LOINC
Reflex 1 080271 Result 080272 Result 1 593-4
Reflex Table for Legionella Species Culture
Order Code Order Name Result Code Result Name UofM Result LOINC
Reflex 1 080271 Result 080273 Result 2 N/A
Reflex Table for Legionella Species Culture
Order Code Order Name Result Code Result Name UofM Result LOINC
Reflex 1 080271 Result 080274 Result 3 N/A
Reflex Table for Legionella Species Culture
Order Code Order Name Result Code Result Name UofM Result LOINC
Reflex 1 080271 Result 080275 Result 4 N/A
Reflex Table for Legionella Species Culture
Order Code Order Name Result Code Result Name UofM Result LOINC
Reflex 1 080271 Result 080276 Antimicrobial Susceptibility N/A

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CPT Statement/Profile Statement

The LOINC® codes are copyright © 1994-2021, Regenstrief Institute, Inc. and the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) Committee. Permission is granted in perpetuity, without payment of license fees or royalties, to use, copy, or distribute the LOINC® codes for any commercial or non-commercial purpose, subject to the terms under the license agreement found at https://loinc.org/license/. Additional information regarding LOINC® codes can be found at LOINC.org, including the LOINC Manual, which can be downloaded at LOINC.org/downloads/files/LOINCManual.pdf