Specimen Requirements

Eye

Conjunctiva

Specimen must arrive within 24 hours of collection.

1. Do not use exudates for this specimen type.

2. Cleanse skin around eye with mild antiseptic.

3. Gently remove makeup and ointment with sterile cotton and saline.

4. Collect specimen by swabbing using a culture transport swab.

5. Pass moistened swab 2 times over lower conjunctiva avoiding eyelid border and lashes.

6. Inoculate specimen at bedside.

7. Return swab to sterile culture tube.

8. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date of birth, date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.

9. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

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

Corneal Scraping

Specimen must arrive within 2 hours of collection.

1. Obtain media from the laboratory for direct inoculation at time of collection.

2. Scrape corneal ulcer with spatula or No. 15 blade scalpel. After anesthesia, scrape cooled spatula over surface area of suppuration in short, moderately firm strokes in one direction without touching lashes or lids.

3. Use each scraping to inoculate a row of C shapes on agar media and to prepare a smear on a clean glass slide.

4. Label plate media and slide with patient’s name (first and last), date of birth, date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.

5. Maintain sterility and forward promptly. Do not refrigerate.

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

Genital

Cervix, Endocervix or Vaginal (Females)

Specimen must arrive within 24 hours of collection.

1. Do not use lubricant on speculum.

2. Collect specimen using a culture transport swab.

3. Cervical mucus should be removed first before inserting swab into endocervical canal.

4. Move swab from side-to-side. Avoid touching swab to uninfected surface.

5. Return swab to sterile culture tube, and crush ampule to ensure specimen preservation.

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

7. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature only.

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

Urethra (Males)

1. Collect specimen using a culture swab 1 hour or more after urination. It may be collected from discharge. If no discharge is present, a sterile, small wire Transette® swab may be used to obtain specimen from anteria urethra.

2. Insert swab 2 cm 4 cm into urethra.

3. Rotate swab so that it comes into contact with all urethral surfaces. Leave swab inserted 2 to 3 seconds and remove.

4. Return swab to sterile culture tube, and crush ampule to ensure specimen preservation.

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

6. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature only.

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

Mouth

Specimen must arrive within 24 hours of collection.

1. Collect specimen using a culture transport swab.

2. Rotate against tongue or other affected areas and remove swab.

3. Return swab to sterile culture tube, and crush ampule to ensure specimen preservation.

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

5. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

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

Nose/Nares

Specimen must arrive within 24 hours of collection.

1. Gently insert a culture swab about 1 inch into nose.

2. Rotate against nasal wall and remove swab.

3. Return swab to sterile culture tube, and crush ampule to ensure specimen preservation.

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

5. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

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

Rectal Swab

1. Pass culture transport swab beyond anal sphincter.

2. Rotate swab and withdraw.

3. Return swab to sterile culture tube, and crush ampule to ensure specimen preservation.

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

5. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature.

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

Superficial Lesion/Rash

(Blisters, Celluloids, Draw Sites, Folliculitis, Impetigo, Minor Cuts, Paronychia, Rashes, or Skin Lesions)

Specimen must arrive within 24 hours of collection.

1. Prepare site:  wash wound margins well with antiseptic and remove any crust, if present.

2. Using a culture swab, collect specimen from leading edge of wound (not the adjacent skin).

3. Return swab to sterile culture tube, and crush ampule to ensure specimen preservation.

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

5. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature only.

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

Throat

Specimen must arrive within 24 hours of collection.

1. Obtain specimen using a culture transport swab.

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. 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 swab to sterile culture tube, and crush ampule to ensure specimen preservation.

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

8. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

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