Specimen Requirements

Optimal times for specimen collection must be based upon both the type of infectious disease process and ability of laboratory to expertly process specimens. The Microbiology Laboratory is not as well staffed during evening and late night hours. Specimens collected late in the evening often do not produce adequate growth by next morning. STAT testing is available at all times for critical tests including blood cultures, body fluid Gram stains, etc.
 
Specimen must arrive within 2 hours of collection.
 
Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Abdomen, Abscess Aspirate, Miscellaneous, Peritoneal Fluid, Pleural Fluid, Synovial Fluid

1. Aseptically collect specimen using a sterile syringe or anaerobic culture swab.

2. Place specimen in a screw-capped, sterile container or swab in anaerobic transport tube.

3. Label container/tube (not packaging) with patient’s name, physician’s name, date and time collected, initials of collector, and specimen source.

4. Place container/tube in biohazard transport bag.

5. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

Note:  1. Specimen source and site are required on request form for processing.

2. Physician request sheet must accompany specimen.

Appendix, Gallbladder

1. Aseptically collect aspirate or biopsy material using a sterile syringe or anaerobic culture swab. (Superficial material collected with culture swab is not acceptable.)

2. Place specimen in a screw-capped, sterile container or swab in anaerobic transport tube.

3. Label container/tube (not packaging) with patient’s name, physician’s name, date and time collected, initials of collector, and specimen source.

4. Place container/tube in biohazard transport bag.

5. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

Note:  1. Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

2. Physician request sheet must accompany specimen.

Spinal Fluid

1. Submit 1.5 mL of spinal fluid aseptically collected surgically by physician.

2. Place specimen in a screw-capped, sterile vial.

3. Label vial with patient’s name, physician’s name, date and time collected, initials of collector, and specimen source.

4. Place vial in biohazard transport bag.

5. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

Note:  1. Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

2. Physician request sheet must accompany specimen.

Uterine

1. Aseptically collect aspirate or biopsy material using a sterile syringe or anaerobic culture swab.

2. Place specimen in a screw-capped, sterile container or swab in anaerobic transport tube.

3. Label container/tube (not packaging) with patient’s name, physician’s name, date and time collected, initials of collector, and specimen source.

4. Place container/tube in biohazard transport bag.

5. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

Note:  1. Specimen source and site are required on request form for processing.

2. Physician request sheet must accompany specimen.

Wound

Deep

1. Aseptically collect a deep aspirate using a sterile syringe.

2. Label syringe with patient’s name, physician’s name, date and time collected, initials of collector, and specimen source.

3. Place syringe in biohazard transport bag.

4. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

Note:  1. Specimen source and site are required on request form for processing.

2. Physician request sheet must accompany specimen.

Surface

1. Cleanse surrounding skin.

2. Open lesion and express pus onto anaerobic culture swab (sample advancing margin of lesion).

3. Place swab in anaerobic transport tube.

4. Label tube (not packaging) with patient’s name, physician’s name, date and time collected, initials of collector, and specimen source.

5. Place tube in biohazard transport bag.

6. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

Note:  1. Specimen source and site are required on request form for processing.

2. Physician request sheet must accompany specimen.