Test Catalog

Test Id : SSF1

Order This Test

Nocardia Stain, Varies

Download
Overview

Test Catalog

Useful For
Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful

Detecting Nocardia species and other partially-acid fast aerobic actinomycetes in clinical specimens

Reflex Tests
Lists tests that may or may not be performed, at an additional charge, depending on the result and interpretation of the initial tests.

Test Id Reporting Name Available Separately Always Performed
TISSR Tissue Processing No, (Bill Only) No

Testing Algorithm
Delineates situations when tests are added to the initial order. This includes reflex and additional tests.

Method Name
A short description of the method used to perform the test

Modified Acid-Fast Stain

NY State Available
Indicates the status of NY State approval and if the test is orderable for NY State clients.

Yes

Reporting Name
Lists a shorter or abbreviated version of the Published Name for a test

Nocardia Stain

Aliases
Lists additional common names for a test, as an aid in searching

Fungal Smear

Nocardia Stain

Special Stain for Fungus, Nocardia

Aerobic Actinomycetes

Testing Algorithm
Delineates situations when tests are added to the initial order. This includes reflex and additional tests.

Specimen Type
Describes the specimen type validated for testing

Varies

Necessary Information

Specimen source is required.

ORDER QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Question ID Description Answers
Q00M0056 Specimen Source

Specimen Required
Defines the optimal specimen required to perform the test and the preferred volume to complete testing

Container/Tube: Sterile container

Specimen Volume: 0.2 mL

Collection Instructions: Collect a raw specimen.

Forms

If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send a Microbiology Test Request (T244) with the specimen.

Specimen Minimum Volume
Defines the amount of sample necessary to provide a clinically relevant result as determined by the Testing Laboratory

See Specimen Required

Reject Due To
Identifies specimen types and conditions that may cause the specimen to be rejected

Blood
Bone marrow
Fixed tissue
Viral transport media (including but not limited to M4, M5, BD viral transport media, thioglycolate broth)
Environmental specimen
Wood shaft or charcoal swab
Prepared slides, glass slides, microscope slides 		Reject
 

Specimen Stability Information
Provides a description of the temperatures required to transport a specimen to the performing laboratory, alternate acceptable temperatures are also included

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Varies Refrigerated (preferred) 7 days
Ambient 7 days

Useful For
Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful

Detecting Nocardia species and other partially-acid fast aerobic actinomycetes in clinical specimens

Testing Algorithm
Delineates situations when tests are added to the initial order. This includes reflex and additional tests.

Clinical Information
Discusses physiology, pathophysiology, and general clinical aspects, as they relate to a laboratory test

Nocardia species and other aerobic actinomycetes can cause significant disease in immunocompromised patients. Clinical presentations can include, but are not limited to, pneumonia, skin abscess, bacteremia, brain abscess, eye infection, and joint infection.

 

The modified acid-fast stain can detect Nocardia species and other partially-acid fast aerobic actinomycetes directly from clinical specimens.

Reference Values
Describes reference intervals and additional information for interpretation of test results. May include intervals based on age and sex when appropriate. Intervals are Mayo-derived, unless otherwise designated. If an interpretive report is provided, the reference value field will state this.

Reported as positive or negative

Interpretation
Provides information to assist in interpretation of the test results

Patients whose specimens are reported as partially acid-fast positive should be considered potentially infected with Nocardia species or other aerobic actinomycetes, pending definitive diagnosis by molecular methods or culture.

Cautions
Discusses conditions that may cause diagnostic confusion, including improper specimen collection and handling, inappropriate test selection, and interfering substances

Artifacts may exhibit nonspecific staining and be confused with organisms. Not all aerobic actinomycetes stain as partially acid-fast. A negative stain does not rule out the possibility of infection and culture should be performed. Nocardia species and other aerobic actinomycetes grow well on mycobacterial culture medium so CTB / Mycobacteria and Nocardia Culture, Varies should be ordered. Sometimes, Nocardia species can also be recovered in fungal cultures (FGEN / Fungal Culture, Routine).

Clinical Reference
Recommendations for in-depth reading of a clinical nature

Brown-Elliott BA, Brown JM, Conville PS, Wallace RJ. Clinical and laboratory features of the Nocardia spp. based on current molecular taxonomy. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2006;19(2):259-282

Method Description
Describes how the test is performed and provides a method-specific reference

Modified acid-fast stain. This method uses carbolfuchsin stain (Kinyoun method) with a milder decolorization step for detection of Nocardia species.(Atlas R, Snyder J. Reagents, stains and media: Bacteriology. In: Carrol KC, Pfaller MA, Landry ML, et al, eds. Manual of Clinical Microbiology, 12th ed. ASM Press; 2019:331-361)

PDF Report
Indicates whether the report includes an additional document with charts, images or other enriched information

No

Day(s) Performed
Outlines the days the test is performed. This field reflects the day that the sample must be in the testing laboratory to begin the testing process and includes any specimen preparation and processing time before the test is performed. Some tests are listed as continuously performed, which means that assays are performed multiple times during the day.

Monday through Sunday

Report Available
The interval of time (receipt of sample at Mayo Clinic Laboratories to results available) taking into account standard setup days and weekends. The first day is the time that it typically takes for a result to be available. The last day is the time it might take, accounting for any necessary repeated testing.

1 to 2 days

Specimen Retention Time
Outlines the length of time after testing that a specimen is kept in the laboratory before it is discarded

Raw specimens: 2 to14 days

Performing Laboratory Location
Indicates the location of the laboratory that performs the test

Rochester

Fees
Several factors determine the fee charged to perform a test. Contact your U.S. or International Regional Manager for information about establishing a fee schedule or to learn more about resources to optimize test selection.

  • Authorized users can sign in to Test Prices for detailed fee information.
  • Clients without access to Test Prices can contact Customer Service 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  • Prospective clients should contact their account representative. For assistance, contact Customer Service.

Test Classification
Provides information regarding the medical device classification for laboratory test kits and reagents. Tests may be classified as cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and used per manufacturer instructions, or as products that do not undergo full FDA review and approval, and are then labeled as an Analyte Specific Reagent (ASR) product.

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
Provides guidance in determining the appropriate Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code(s) information for each test or profile. The listed CPT codes reflect Mayo Clinic Laboratories interpretation of CPT coding requirements. It is the responsibility of each laboratory to determine correct CPT codes to use for billing.

CPT codes are provided by the performing laboratory.

87206

87176-Tissue processing (if appropriate)

LOINC® Information
Provides guidance in determining the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) values for the order and results codes of this test. LOINC values are provided by the performing laboratory.

Test Id Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
SSF1 Nocardia Stain 21003-9
Result Id Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
Applies only to results expressed in units of measure originally reported by the performing laboratory. These values do not apply to results that are converted to other units of measure.
SSF1 Nocardia Stain 21003-9

Test Setup Resources

Setup Files
Test setup information contains test file definition details to support order and result interfacing between Mayo Clinic Laboratories and your Laboratory Information System.

Excel | PHP Pdf | CMS Pdf

Sample Reports
Normal and Abnormal sample reports are provided as references for report appearance.

Normal Reports | Abnormal Reports

SI Sample Reports
International System (SI) of Unit reports are provided for a limited number of tests. These reports are intended for international account use and are only available through MayoLINK accounts that have been defined to receive them.

SI Normal Reports | SI Abnormal Reports