LOINC Code 88344-7: Intracellular bacteria LM Ql (Ear)

What is this code?

LOINC codes identify tests, measurements, observations, survey items, and clinical questions in a standardized way. It is associated with the component Intracellular bacteria. It is commonly used with the system or sample type Ear.

When is it used?

• Used in lab systems, EHRs, and clinical data exchange.
• May identify a test, observation, survey item, or clinical document request rather than a diagnosis.
• Status: ACTIVE
• Order vs observation: Observation
• Method: Microscopy.light

What it does not mean

• The code identifies the observation or test, not the actual result.

Key facts

• Intracellular bacteria [Presence] in Ear by Light microscopy
• Intracellular bacteria
• The presence (none, few, marked, etc.) of intracellular bacteria (e.g. cocci or bacilli) in an ear swab sample taken from the left external ear. In veterinary medicine, the presence of intracellular bacteria in ear specimens indicates a more active leukemic cell response than simply the presence of white cells. In cases where white cells and bacteria are in proximity but the bacteria do not appear to be ingested suggests either sample contamination, ineffective neutrophils, or that the bacteria seen are not the cause of the inflammation.
• Bact; Hearing; ID; Infectious Disease; InfectiousDisease; LM; Micro; Microbiology; Micros; Microscopic; Ordinal; Otologic; Point in time; PR; QL; Qual; Qualitative; Random; Screen

Where you may see this code

You may see this code in lab systems, lab reports, EHR exports, interoperability feeds, or other structured clinical data exchanges.

Common synonyms

Frequently asked questions