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HelpMayo Test ID ACT Actinomyces Culture, Varies
Shipping Instructions
Specimen should arrive within 72 hours of collection.
Necessary Information
Specimen source is required.
Specimen Required
Specimen Type: Abscesses, intrauterine devices, percutaneous transtracheal aspirates, sterile body fluids, suprapubic aspirations, wounds
Supplies: Anaerobe Transport Tube (T588)
Container/Tube: Anaerobe transport tube
Specimen Volume: Entire specimen
Collection Instructions:
1. Specimens should be collected by needle and syringe aspiration or surgical drainage.
2. Send ambient.
Specimen Type: Spinal fluid
Container/Tube: Sterile container
Specimen Volume: Entire contents of vial number 2 (minimum volume 0.5 mL)
Collection Instructions: Always send vial number 2, if possible. If not, note which vial was sent. If single vial specimen for multiple laboratories, note “single vial specimen†on card accompanying specimen.
Useful For
Diagnosing anaerobic Actinomyces involved in infections
Reflex Tests
| Test ID | Reporting Name | Available Separately | Always Performed |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISAN | Anaerobe Ident by Sequencing | No, (Bill Only) | No |
| TISSR | Tissue Processing | No, (Bill Only) | No |
| RMALA | Id MALDI-TOF Mass Spec Anaerobe | No, (Bill Only) | No |
Testing Algorithm
When this test is ordered, the reflex tests may be performed at an additional charge.
Method Name
Conventional Culture Techniques
Reporting Name
Actinomyces CultureSpecimen Type
VariesSpecimen Stability Information
| Specimen Type | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Varies | Ambient | 72 hours |
Reject Due To
| Swab | Reject |
Clinical Information
Anaerobic Actinomyces are nonsporeforming, thin branching, gram-positive bacilli that are part of the normal microbiota of the human oral cavity and may also colonize the gastrointestinal and female genital tracts. Their presence is important in preserving the usual bacterial populations of the mouth and in preventing infection with disease-causing bacteria.
Actinomyces are generally of low pathogenicity but may be an important factor in the development of periodontal disease and may cause soft tissue infections in colonized areas of the body following trauma (surgical or otherwise). The typical lesion consists of an outer zone of granulation around central purulent loculations containing masses of tangled organisms ("sulfur granule"). Chronic burrowing sinus tracts develop. Typical actinomycotic infections occur around the head and neck, in the lung and chest wall, and in the peritoneal cavity and abdominal wall. Actinomycosis of the female genital tract occurs in association with the use of intrauterine contraceptive devices. Purulent collections containing "sulfur granules" may drain from some sinus tracts opening to the skin.
Reference Values
No growth
Identification of probable pathogens
Interpretation
Isolation of anaerobic Actinomyces in significant numbers from well-collected specimens, including blood, other normally sterile body fluids, or closed collections of purulent fluid, indicates infection with the identified organism.
Cautions
Specimens should be collected by needle and syringe aspiration or surgical drainage to avoid contamination with normal microbiota Actinomyces, especially in and around the oral cavity; such contamination would make interpretation of culture results impossible.
Clinical Reference
1. Summanen P, Baron EJ, Citron DM, et al. Wadsworth Anaerobic Bacteriology Manual. 6th ed. Star Publishing Co; 2002
2. Butler-Wu SM, She RC. Actinomyces, Lactobacillus, Cutibacterium, and other non-spore-forming anaerobic gram-positive rods. In: Carroll KC, Pfaller MA, eds. Manual of Clinical Microbiology. 12th ed. ASM Press; 2019:938-967
3. Hall GS. Anaerobic gram-positive bacilli. In: Leber AL, ed. Clinical Microbiology Procedures Handbook. 4th ed. Vol 1. ASM Press; 2016
Method Description
Appropriate specimens are inoculated onto blood agar and into thioglycollate broth, which are then incubated under anaerobic conditions. Cultures are examined after 48 hours of incubation and thereafter (maximum of 14 days) for the presence of organisms that have characteristic colonial and Gram stain morphologies. Definitive identification is made using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry or 16S rRNA sequencing.(Procop GW, Church DL, Hall GS, et al. The anaerobic bacteria. In: Koneman's Color Atlas and Textbook of Diagnostic Microbiology. 7th ed. Wolters Kluwer Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins; 2017:984-1073)
Day(s) Performed
Monday through Sunday
Report Available
14 to 20 daysSpecimen Retention Time
7 daysPerforming Laboratory
Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester
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.CPT Code Information
87075-Actinomyces culture
62258-Id MALDI-TOF Mass Spec Anaerobe (if appropriate)
87153-Anaerobe identification by sequencing (if appropriate)
87176-Tissue processing (if appropriate)
LOINC Code Information
| Test ID | Test Order Name | Order LOINC Value |
|---|---|---|
| ACT | Actinomyces Culture | 9816-0 |
| Result ID | Test Result Name | Result LOINC Value |
|---|---|---|
| ACT | Actinomyces Culture | 9816-0 |
Specimen Minimum Volume
See Specimen Required