Test ID ANAES Bacterial Culture, Anaerobic with Antimicrobial Susceptibilities, Varies
Shipping Instructions
Specimen should arrive within 72 hours of collection.
See Infectious Specimen Shipping Guidelines in Special Instructions for shipping information.
Necessary Information
Specimen source is required.
Specimen Required
Supplies: Anaerobic Transport Tube (T588)
Acceptable Sources: Deep tissues, sterile body fluids, abscesses, percutaneous transtracheal aspirates, suprapubic aspirations, or wounds
Collection Instructions: Specimen should be obtained by using a needle and syringe from a source not normally colonized by anaerobes.
Useful For
Diagnosing anaerobic bacterial infections
Directing antimicrobial therapy for anaerobic infections
Reflex Tests
Test ID | Reporting Name | Available Separately | Always Performed |
---|---|---|---|
ANAID | Anaerobe Ident | No, (Bill Only) | No |
RMALA | Id MALDI-TOF Mass Spec Anaerobe | No, (Bill Only) | No |
BATTA | Anaerobe Suscep Battery | No, (Bill Only) | No |
ISAN | Anaerobe Ident by Sequencing | No, (Bill Only) | No |
TISSR | Tissue Processing | No, (Bill Only) | No |
SANA | Anaerobe Suscep per agent | No, (Bill Only) | No |
BLA | Beta Lactamase | No, (Bill Only) | No |
PCRID | Identification by PCR | No, (Bill Only) | No |
Testing Algorithm
When this test is ordered the reflex tests may be performed at an additional charge. All bacterial organisms submitted will automatically have susceptibility testing performed and billed as appropriate. Antimicrobial agents appropriate to the organism and specimen source will be tested according to Mayo Clinic's practice.
See Anaerobic Bacteria Antimicrobials in Special Instructions for a listing of the antimicrobials routinely tested in our laboratory as well as antimicrobials that may be tested upon request. Call 800-533-1710 and ask to speak to the Bacteriology Anaerobe Laboratory if the organism or antimicrobial of interest is not listed in this table.
Special Instructions
Method Name
Conventional Culture Technique with Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) by Agar Dilution (if appropriate)
Reporting Name
Bacterial Culture, Anaerobic + SuscSpecimen Type
VariesSpecimen Stability Information
Specimen Type | Temperature | Time | Special Container |
---|---|---|---|
Varies | Ambient | 72 hours |
Reference Values
No growth
Identification of probable pathogens:
When antimicrobial susceptibilities are performed, results are reported as minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) in mcg/mL. Breakpoints (also known as "clinical breakpoints") are used to categorize an organism as susceptible, susceptible-dose dependent, intermediate, resistant, nonsusceptible, or epidemiological cutoff value according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines.
In some instances an interpretive category cannot be provided based on available data and the following comment will be included: "There are no established interpretive guidelines for agents reported without interpretations."
Susceptible (S):
A category defined by a breakpoint that implies that isolates with an MIC at or below or a zone diameter at or above the susceptible breakpoint are inhibited by the usually achievable concentrations of antimicrobial agent when the dosage recommended to treat the site of infection is used, resulting in likely clinical efficacy.
Intermediate (I):
A category defined by a breakpoint that includes isolates with MICs or zone diameters within the intermediate range that approach usually attainable blood and tissue levels and for which response rates may be lower than for susceptible isolates.
Note: The intermediate category implies clinical efficacy in body sites where the drugs are physiologically concentrated or when a higher than normal dosage of a drug can be used. This category also includes a buffer zone, which should prevent small, uncontrolled, technical factors from causing major discrepancies in interpretations, especially for drugs with narrow pharmacotoxicity margins.
Resistant (R):
A category defined by a breakpoint that implies that isolates with an MIC at or above the resistant breakpoint are not inhibited by the usually achievable concentrations of the agent with normal dosage schedules and that demonstrate MICs that fall in the range in which specific microbial resistance mechanisms are likely, and clinical efficacy of the agent against the isolate has not been reliably shown in treatment studies.
Epidemiological Cutoff Value (ECV):
The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) that separates microbial populations into those with and without phenotypically detectable resistance (non-wild-type or wild-type, respectively). The ECV defines the highest MIC for the wild type population of isolates. ECVs are based on in vitro data only, using MIC distributions. ECVs are not clinical breakpoints, and the clinical relevance of ECVs for a particular patient has not yet been identified or approved by Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) or any regulatory agency.
When an ECV is reported, the following comment will be included: "This MIC is consistent with the Epidemiological Cutoff Value (ECV) observed in isolates (WITH / WITHOUT) acquired resistance; however, correlation with treatment outcome is unknown."
(Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute: Performance Standards for Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing. 30th ed. CLSI supplement M100. Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute; 2020)
Day(s) and Time(s) Performed
Monday through Sunday
Performing Laboratory

Test Classification
This test has been cleared, approved or is exempt by the U.S. 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-Bacterial Culture, Anaerobic
87076-Anaerobe Ident (if appropriate)
87076-Id MALDI-TOF Mass Spec Anaerobe (if appropriate)
87153-Anaerobe Ident by Sequencing (if appropriate)
87186-Antimicrobial Susceptibility, Anaerobic Bacteria, MIC (if appropriate)
87181-Anaerobe Susceptibility per agent (if appropriate)
87185-Beta Lactamase (if appropriate)
87176-Tissue Processing (if appropriate)
87150-Identification by PCR (if appropriate)
LOINC Code Information
Test ID | Test Order Name | Order LOINC Value |
---|---|---|
ANAES | Bacterial Culture, Anaerobic + Susc | 635-3 |
Result ID | Test Result Name | Result LOINC Value |
---|---|---|
ANAES | Bacterial Culture, Anaerobic + Susc | 635-3 |
NY State Approved
YesForms
If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send a Microbiology Test Request (T244) with the specimen.