Guest guest Posted December 30, 2003 Report Share Posted December 30, 2003 Hi; yes it makes considerable difference how soon they are checked for gram stain (negative or positive), how soon the culture is started, and whether they use the more common Kirby-Bauer Method, or the special agar slants used in Synergy testing (this has to be sent to Saimens, M.D., Medical College, Synergy Laboratory, Columbia University in New York City). If they fail to handle them properly, as you have found out, the results are null--which is why so many cf doctors assume they cannot get a valid culture unless they suction the patient or do a bronchoscopy--not that there are not valid other reasons for doing those procedures. I have seen the variation in my own experience and have certainly heard about it from other adults with cystic fibrosis, including my own youngest (ahem!) adult wcf. I hope that this helps somewhat; for some reason, I had trouble pulling up the links and web sites from Internet Explorer tonight, so decided to just summarise it myself, which I hope you do not mind. May things be better for you in the coming New Year, n Rojas, wcf, mom of 3 ADULTS, the youngest of whom has cystic fibrosis, too sputum cultures Does anyone know information about the right way sputum cultures should be handled. How long can they be left out, how long do you have to get the best results. I just want some info so I can have our doc call and hopefully have it set up so we can use the hospital lab instead. Just found out our lab does not even plate them till late, around 6-7pm. No wonder he has never grown anything out at that lab, only the hospital lab. Thanks Darci 9wcf *-.,,.-**-.,,.-**-.,,.-**-.,,.-**-.,,.-**-.,,.-**-.,,.-**-.,,.-**-.,,.-* WARNING: Consult a trusted doctor before ANY change to your treatment. @}->- @}->- @}->- Visit us at Http://Cystic-L.org and see our extensive Handbook on-line (contains much CF information, and references to other CF resources), the Photo Archives (people with CF, parents with CF, subscribers to Cystic-L, and a memorial page), the CF Shop, the world's largest cystic fibrosis bookstore (in the CF Shop), and much more! @}->- @}->- @}->- KNOWLEDGE IS POWER! *-.,,.-**-.,,.-**-.,,.-**-.,,.-**-.,,.-**-.,,.-**-.,,.-**-.,,.-**-.,,.-* ------------------------------------------- The opinions and information exchanged on this list should IN NO WAY be construed as medical advice. PLEASE CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN BEFORE CHANGING ANY MEDICATIONS OR TREATMENTS. ------------------------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 31, 2003 Report Share Posted December 31, 2003 I dont know how long you can leave them out, but I don know they save the sputum cultures.It took a long time for PA to grow in Tyler's.My cf nurse was discussing which cup grew what, and the last one he had done still took (i think) a few weeks to grow.Hope this helps. Patty, mom to Tywcf > > > > Does anyone know information about the right way sputum cultures should be > handled. How long can they be left out, how long do you have to get the > best results. I just want some info so I can have our doc call and > hopefully have it set up so we can use the hospital lab instead. > > Just found out our lab does not even plate them till late, around 6- 7pm. No > wonder he has never grown anything out at that lab, only the hospital lab. > > Thanks > Darci > 9wcf > > *-.,,.-**-.,,.-**-.,,.-**-.,,.-**-.,,.-**-.,,.-**-.,,.-**-.,,.-**- ..,,.-* > > WARNING: Consult a trusted doctor before ANY change to your treatment. > > @}->- @}->- @}->- > > Visit us at Http://Cystic-L.org and see our extensive Handbook on- line > (contains much CF information, and references to other CF resources), > the Photo Archives (people with CF, parents with CF, subscribers to > Cystic-L, and a memorial page), the CF Shop, the world's largest > cystic fibrosis bookstore (in the CF Shop), and much more! > > @}->- @}->- @}->- > > KNOWLEDGE IS POWER! > > *-.,,.-**-.,,.-**-.,,.-**-.,,.-**-.,,.-**-.,,.-**-.,,.-**-.,,.-**- ..,,.-* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 31, 2003 Report Share Posted December 31, 2003 Dear Darci, I am not clear on what lab your hospital is, but CFsputum clutures should always be done at a CF center. Most labs don't have the proper medium to grow the rather unusual and exotic bugs many pwcf have. I don't know the answers to your other questions except that it often takes at least 5-7 days to get results so if you are getting them any faster they probably aren't accurate. I hope this helps a little, love, M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 31, 2003 Report Share Posted December 31, 2003 Thank you for all the responses. We do not have a CF Center here. A CF doc comes from Children's Oakland once a month. I spent 2 hours at the hospital today setting up future sputum cultures. The other lab is through my insurance, but they have me set up now as a clinic patient so my insurance will pay. How scary to think that some labs don't even plate till 7pm. I guess that is a good question to ask your lab from now on. Darci 9wcf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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