[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$fxLN3MUwXCdr5RPjwZYIDpOj8CHyjOmngWTgoKXPtZbg":3,"$f7bB-qnq-_l6cozDi_M3KUIYjKZY0S_MsnlBQgrt57SI":32,"$f3Ft0rKFJHppdzE-vuveecxx1BUcg9iOlMLtyzf_MJDg":47},[4,8,12,16,20,24,28],{"title":5,"slug":6,"path":7},"About Microbeonline.com","about-microbeonline-com","\u002Fabout-microbeonline-com\u002F",{"title":9,"slug":10,"path":11},"About Me","about-me","\u002Fabout-microbeonline-com\u002Fabout-me\u002F",{"title":13,"slug":14,"path":15},"Advertise with Us","advertise-us","\u002Fadvertise-us\u002F",{"title":17,"slug":18,"path":19},"Privacy Policy","privacy-policy","\u002Fprivacy-policy\u002F",{"title":21,"slug":22,"path":23},"Abbreviations","abbreviations","\u002Fabbreviations\u002F",{"title":25,"slug":26,"path":27},"Microbes","microbes","\u002Fmicrobes\u002F",{"title":29,"slug":30,"path":31},"Books","recommended-books","\u002Frecommended-books\u002F",{"type":33,"data":34},"blog",{"slug":35,"title":36,"description":36,"seoTitle":37,"seoDescription":37,"author":38,"createdDate":39,"lastUpdatedDate":40,"draft":41,"category":42,"image":37,"body":43,"faq":44,"tags":45,"related":46},"critical-panic-values-microbiology","Critical (Panic) Values in Microbiology",null,"Acharya Tankeshwar","2021-05-05","2025-12-29",false,"bacteriology","Critical\u002Fpanic values are defined as values that are outside the normal range to a degree that may constitute an immediate health risk to the individual or require immediate action on the part of the ordering physician. Panic values in microbiology encompass the detection of clinically important microorganisms and viruses that require notification, immediate action by the physician, action by hospital personnel and visitors, and notification of governmental agencies (this may differ from country to country).\n\nCertain critical results must be communicated to the clinician immediately. All phone calls made to report critical values are documented in the Laboratory Information System.\n\nEach clinical microbiology laboratory, in consultation with its medical staff, should prepare a list of these so-called panic values.\n\n![Critical Values in Microbiology](https:\u002F\u002Fassets.microbeonline.com\u002Fblogs\u002FCritical-values-in-Microbiology.jpg)Figure: Critical Values in Microbiology\n\n## Common panic values include\n\n1. Positive direct examination from sterile body fluids\n\nCerebrospinal fluid Joint fluid Pleural fluid Pericardial fluid Peritoneal fluid Intraoperative body fluids\n\n 1. Positive CSF Gram stain\n 2. Positive CSF antigen detection for pneumococci, *Streptococcus agalactiae*, *Neisseria meningitidis*, and *Haemophilus influenzae* type b (now rare)\n 3. Positive cryptococcal antigen test\n 4. Positive blood cultures\n 5. Blood smear positive for malaria (*Plasmodium spp*)\n 6. AFB smear-positive\n 7. Isolation of *Mycobacterium tuberculosis*\n 8. *Streptococcus pyogenes* (group A *Streptococcus*) in a surgical wound\n 9. Gram stain suggestive of gas gangrene (large box-car shaped gram-positive rods).\n10. Presence of potential *B. anthracis* or any bioterrorism agent such as *Francisella tularensis, Yersinia pestis* etc.\n11. Detection of a significant pathogen (e.g., *Legionella, Brucella*, vancomycin-resistant *Staphylococcus aureus*)\n12. Positive eye cultures growing *Pseudomonas aeruginosa* or *Bacillus* spp.\n13. Positive or suspicious for any pandemic (Influenza or SARS) or Bioterrorism Agents (Smallpox, viral hemorrhagic fever agents)\n14. Isolation of *Streptococcus agalactiae* from pregnant women (cultures taken at 35–37 wks’ gestation)\n\n**References and further readings**\n\n1. Andrea J. Linscott, 2016. 2.1. Collection, Transport, and Manipulation of Clinical Specimens and Initial Laboratory Concerns, \\*Clinical Microbiology Procedures Handbook,\\*4th Edition. ASM Press, Washington, DC. doi: 10.1128\u002F9781683670438.CMPH.ch2.1\n2. Tille, P. (2017). *Bailey & Scott’s Diagnostic Microbiology* (14 edition). Mosby.",[],[],[],[48,54,61,66,70,74,79,84,88,92],{"slug":49,"name":38,"description":50,"image":51,"body":52,"postCount":53},"acharya-tankeshwar","Editor-in-chief","https:\u002F\u002Fassets.microbeonline.com\u002Fauthors\u002Ftankeshwar-acharya-author-microbeonline.jpg","***Tankeshwar Acharya, MSc (Medical Microbiology)***\n\n*Tankeshwar Acharya is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology at Patan Academy of Health Sciences (PAHS), Nepal, where he has been teaching and practicing clinical microbiology for over 14 years. He is the founder of Microbe Online, one of the leading free microbiology education resources on the web, covering bacteriology, mycology, parasitology, immunology, and clinical laboratory diagnostics written from direct experience in both the classroom and the diagnostic laboratory.*",433,{"slug":55,"name":56,"description":57,"image":58,"body":59,"postCount":60},"ashma-shrestha","Ashma Shrestha","SEO Copywriter and Science Communicator\nKathmandu, Nepal","https:\u002F\u002Fassets.microbeonline.com\u002Fauthors\u002Fashma-shrestha.png","Ashma Shrestha holds a Master of Science in Medical Microbiology from the Institute of Science and Technology (IOST), Tribhuvan University, Nepal, where she developed a strong foundation in virology, molecular biology, and diagnostic microbiology.\n\nShe now works as an SEO Copywriter at Resolution Digital, where she combines her scientific training with research-driven content strategy. She is certified in Google Analytics and Google Business Profile (GBP), and brings a data-informed approach to science communication writing content that is not only accurate but structured to reach and serve the students who need it most.\n\nAt microbeonline, Ashma contributes articles primarily in virology and molecular biology, areas she finds most compelling for their mechanistic depth and their growing clinical relevance. Her writing reflects the same standard the site is built on: factual rigor, clear explanation of the *why* behind microbiology concepts, and content that helps students move from memorization to genuine understanding.\n\nShe is passionate about making complex microbiological concepts accessible without sacrificing accuracy; a skill that sits at the intersection of her scientific training and her professional work in content and SEO.",81,{"slug":62,"name":63,"description":64,"image":37,"body":37,"postCount":65},"sushmita-baniya","Sushmita Baniya","Author \u002F Contributor",32,{"slug":67,"name":68,"description":64,"image":37,"body":37,"postCount":69},"samikshya-acharya","Samikshya Acharya",20,{"slug":71,"name":72,"description":64,"image":37,"body":37,"postCount":73},"alisha-tripathi","Alisha Tripathi",6,{"slug":75,"name":76,"description":77,"image":37,"body":37,"postCount":78},"aastha-shrestha","Aastha Shrestha"," Author \u002F Contributor",10,{"slug":80,"name":81,"description":82,"image":37,"body":37,"postCount":83},"guest-author","Guest Author","Guest Author \u002F Contributor",2,{"slug":85,"name":86,"description":64,"image":37,"body":37,"postCount":87},"srijana-khanal","Srijana Khanal",18,{"slug":89,"name":90,"description":82,"image":37,"body":37,"postCount":91},"dr-poonam-acharya","Dr. Poonam Acharya",1,{"slug":93,"name":94,"description":64,"image":37,"body":95,"postCount":96},"nisha-rijal","Nisha Rijal","**Nisha Rijal** is a microbiologist and quality assurance specialist. She served for nearly 12 years as a microbiologist at the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL), Nepal's national reference laboratory, and continues to work as a consultant microbiologist in international public health organization. ",51]