BWH: Microbiological Alert Values

Alert values either greater than or less than the ranges indicated below will be called directly to the ordering location or
practice site. For more information see the guidelines for notification of alert values.

Positive results of the following procedures are called back to the ordering physician.

Blood, CSF or joint fluid clutures
Isolation of enteric pathogens (Salmonella, Shigella, Yersinia, Campylobacter, Vibrio, E. coli 0157)
Pneumocystis
GC probe
Chlamydia probe
Clostridium difficile toxin assays
Cryptococcus latex agglutination
Gonococcus
Positive viral isolations
STAT CMV latex screens

Positive results of the following procedures are communicated to Infection Control

Isolation of enteric pathogens (Salmonella, Shigella, Yersinia, Campylobacter, Vibrio, E. coli 0157)
Pertussis
Listeria
Neisseria meningococcus
Legionella
M. tuberculosis and positive acid fast stains
Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Group A strep (non throat)
Vancoumycin resistant enterococci