Department of Microbiology
Quality Manual
Section: Process Control
Prepared by: QA Committee
Issued by: Laboratory Manager
Approved by: Laboratory Director
Policy QPCMI14001.09
Page 1 of 3
Subject Title: Preliminary Reporting
Original Date: October 16, 2000
Revision Date: July 27, 2009
Annual Review Date: May 31, 2013
Purpose:
To describe the conditions for issuing a preliminary report
Procedure:
a) All direct smears are to be reported with final status in LIS.
b) Negative culture or no growth after 24 hours incubation (except sterile sites): No
preliminary report. Assume negative unless reported otherwise. These will be held
for the full incubation period and sent as final.
c) Respiratory specimen: Preliminary culture report at 24 hours when Gram negative
bacilli, P. aeruginosa or S. aureus (SS +) are isolated in significant quantity.
Haemophilus influenzae should be reported in 24 hrs. if the identification is
confirmed.
d) Wound and miscellaneous specimens: Preliminary culture report at 24 hours when
probable pathogens or possible or significant amounts of Gram negative bacilli
classified as possible pathogens are isolated.
e) Urine culture: Preliminary report at 24 hours when GPC, GNB, Yeast, P.
aeruginosa, E. coli, Enterococcus species or S. aureus isolated in significant amount.
f) MRSA: Report as “MRSA” when Staph agglutination test +, tube coagulation test +,
oxacillin screen and MRSA Denka + while awaiting VITEK results.
g) Blood culture: For positive cultures, send preliminary report on Gram and again on
culture. However, if second bottle becomes positive with the same organism, not to
report until the final culture report on the first bottle is ready unless a different
organism is isolated.
h) Sterile sites: Preliminary report at 24 hour on both positive and negative cultures.
Negative statement: “No growth to date, further report to follow”
i) Cervical and Group B Streptococcus Screening: No preliminary report.
j) Stool: Preliminary report on positive culture while awaiting PHL confirmation.
UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK/MOUNT SINAI HOSPITAL, DEPARTMENT OF MICROBIOLOGY
NOTE: This is a CONTROLLED document. Any documents appearing in paper form that are not stamped in red "MASTER COPY"
are not controlled and should be checked against the document (titled as above) on the server prior to use.
D:\106751672.doc
Department of Microbiology
Quality Manual
Section: Process Control
Policy QPCMI14001.09
Page 2 of 3
Subject Title: Preliminary Reporting
k) Pneumocystis (PCP) Stain: PCP performed with calcofluor stain should be sent as
preliminary result, with the phrase “confirmation by immunoflorescence stain to
follow”.
UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK/MOUNT SINAI HOSPITAL, DEPARTMENT OF MICROBIOLOGY
NOTE: This is a CONTROLLED document. Any documents appearing in paper form that are not stamped in red "MASTER COPY"
are not controlled and should be checked against the document (titled as above) on the server prior to use.
D:\106751672.doc
Department of Microbiology
Quality Manual
Section: Process Control
Policy QPCMI14001.09
Page 3 of 3
Subject Title: Preliminary Reporting
Record of Edited Revisions
Manual Section Name: Preliminary Reporting
Page Number / Item
Annual Review
Annual Review
Annual Review
Annual Review
Annual Review
Annual Review
Wounds and Miscellaneous edited to include possible and probable
pathogens as in Misc. manual
Annual Review
Annual Review
Annual Review
Date of Revision
Signature of
Approval
May 18, 2004
May 04, 2005
October 13, 2006
August 13, 2007
June 18, 2008
July 27, 2009
Dr. T. Mazzulli
Dr. T. Mazzulli
Dr. T. Mazzulli
Dr. T. Mazzulli
Dr. T. Mazzulli
Dr. T. Mazzulli
July 27, 2009
Dr. T. Mazzulli
May 31, 2011
May 31, 2012
May 31, 2013
Dr. T. Mazzulli
Dr. T. Mazzulli
Dr. T. Mazzulli
UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK/MOUNT SINAI HOSPITAL, DEPARTMENT OF MICROBIOLOGY
NOTE: This is a CONTROLLED document. Any documents appearing in paper form that are not stamped in red "MASTER COPY"
are not controlled and should be checked against the document (titled as above) on the server prior to use.
D:\106751672.doc