Test:	Fungus Culture, General
Synonym:	Mycology Culture, Mold Identification
Method:	Standard reference procedures for fungal culture; DNA probes available on isolate for Histoplasma, Coccidioides, and Blastomyces
Availability:	Daily; preliminary report at 2 weeks; final report at 6 weeks for tissues, biopsies, and bone marrow and 4 weeks for all other sources
Specimen:	Tissue, pus, purulent fluid, respiratory specimens, body fluid, skin biopsy
Collection Device:	Sterile container or culturette swab
Volume:	5.0 mL fluid minimum
Storage/Transport:	Transport and store specimens from sterile body sites (fluids, tissues, etc.) at ambient temperature and refrigerate specimens from nonsterile sites (respiratory, GI tract, etc.)
Unacceptable:	Non-sterile or leaking container, insufficient volume
Specimen Stability:
Reference Interval:	No fungi isolated at 6 weeks
Reportable Disease:
Comments:	Indicate suspected organism(s) on the test request form. Additional patient history may be helpful; include the patient's occupation, history of travel or residence abroad, and any animal contact. Media is available for direct inoculation. If CSF cannot be transported within 8 hours, hold at 35 °C until the time of transport. For blood specimens, refer to Fungus Culture, Blood. Notification of positive results for mold or positive CSF cultures is provided. For skin, hair, and nail specimens see Fungus Culture Dermatophyte.
Revised:	2/13/2012