Important Note

Smear performed from clinical samples for the presumptive identification of pathogens, determination of the quality of the specimen, and presence of white blood cells.  

--This is included with all aerobic culture orders

--Not routinely performed from sites that normally harbor increased amounts of indigenous, mixed flora, such as throats, vaginal, stool, urine.  Not performed from medical devices.

-Any specimen submitted from a sterile site for gram stain only, will receive an aerobic culture if not ordered