Advanced Diagnostic Laboratories

Sinus Culture

Test Code

CXSIN

Description

Sinus culture is used to determine the possible bacterial causes of rhinosinusitis.

This test includes a Gram stain and culture.

Anaerobic testing is included if the specimen is sent under anaerobic conditions. Anaerobic condititions include a syringe with the air expelled or anaerobic transport media.

Collect

Specimen	Collection
Rigid endoscopy	Patient will take intranasal decongestant and a topical anesthetic. Aspirate from the middle meatus adjacent to the maxillary sinus ostium ipsilateral. An aspiration of the drainage is preferred, but drainage can be submitted on a swab.
Maxillary aspiration	Clean anterior nares with antiseptic solution, then apply topical anesthetic. Puncture the maxillary antrum and aspirate secretions with needle and syringe. If no material was aspirated, irrigate with 2ml of nonbacteriostatic saline.
Nasal Wash	Nasal washes are not a preferred specimen type. Nasal washes and nasal aspirates lack specificity to diagnose sinusitis or lower respiratory disease. These will be accepted but minimal pathogens will be identified.

All specimen sources need to be collected in a sterile container or a syringe. Remove the needle and cap syringe before sending to laboratory.

Aspirates are preferred over swabs.

Minimum volume: 1ml

Unacceptable Conditions

Anaerobic portion of testing will not be performed if the samples was not submitted under anaerobic conditions
Frozen specimens
Specimens not stored at proper transport conditions
Quantity of specimen insufficient; <1ml of liquid specimen
Sources other than those mentioned in the collection section
Mislabeled or unlabeled specimen
Excessively leaking specimen

Storage Transport Temp

Transport to the laboratory as soon as possible.

2 hours at room temperature (20-25°C) or 24 hours refrigerated (2-8°C).

Stability

Performed

7 days a week from 8am to 6pm.

Methodology

Aerobic bacterial culture.

Anaerobic bacterial culture is performed if the sample is sent under anaerobic conditions.

Turnaround Time

Department

Microbiology Lab

Study Offerings

Not offered

Reference Interval

Semi-quantification of normal sinus flora

Interpretation

Pathogens in any quantity include:

Streptococcus pnemoniae
Streptococcus pyogenes
Haemophlius influenzae
Moraxella catharralhis
Mold
Anaerboes (< 3 morphologies)

Quantify dependent pathogens:

Enterbacterales
Pseudomonas aeriginosa
Viridans group streptococcus
Staphylococcus aureus

NOTE: only pure pathogens will be reported for nasal washes and nasal aspirates.