Specimen Requirements

Specimen must arrive within 48 hours of collection.

Throat

1. Obtain specimen using a culture transport swab containing 2 rayon/dacron swabs.

2. Tilt patient’s head back to assist in opening of mouth as wide as possible.

3. Depress tongue with a tongue depressor so swab does not touch oral mucosa or tongue.

4. If patient has complained of 1 spot being sore, swab that area well.

5.Use each swab to collect specimen in 1 continuous motion:

 A. Swab 1 tonsillar area up then down.

 B. Move to back of throat as far down as possible and swab there.

 C. Move to other tonsillar area and swab.

 D. Swab behind uvula and remove swab.

6. Return both swabs to sterile culture tube, making contact with the moist foam pad in the bottom of the tube.

7. Label tube with patient’s name (first and last), date of birth, date and actual time of collection, collector’s initials, and type of specimen.

8. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

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