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Collection Instructions
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Abscess - General or Open: cellulitis, eye exudate, tissue, skin lesion, wounds
Specimen:
Tissue: > 1g
Fluid: > 0.5mL
• Remove surface exudate by wiping with sterile saline or 70 percent alcohol
• Collect fluid abscess material with Luer tip syringe and/or remove tissue aseptically
• For open lesions/abscesses, aspirate, if possible, material from under the margin of the lesion/abscess
• Remove tissue aseptically
• Never submit a swab
Container/Transportation:
• Fluid: Submit in sterile leak-proof container
• Tissue: Submit in sterile leak-proof container with 2-3mL sterile saline
• Do not transport specimen in a commercial swab transport device or in transport medium
• Transport at room temperature as soon as possible
• If delayed > 1 hour refrigerate specimen
• Do not freeze
Body Fluids: abdominal, amniotic, ascites, bile, gastric wash or lavage, joint, paracentesis, pericardial, peritoneal, pleural, synovial, thoracentesis
Specimen:
Preferred: 50mL fluid
Minimum: 10-15mL fluid
• Aseptically collect as much fluid as possible
• Never submit a swab dipped in fluid
Container/Transportation:
• Submit specimen in sterile leak-proof container such as a 50mL conical tube or sterile urine collection container
• Transport at room temperature as soon as possible
• If delayed > 1 hour refrigerate specimen
• Do not freeze
Bone Marrow Aspirate:
Specimen:
Preferred Volume: 1mL
• Prepare the puncture site as for surgical incision
Container/Transportation:
• Bone Marrow Isolator Tube - obtained from laboratory
• Transport at room temperature as soon as possible
• Do not refrigerate or freeze specimen
CSF:
Specimen:
Preferred Volume: 10mL
Minimum Volume: 2mL
• Aseptically collect 2-10mL of specimen
• Never submit a swab dipped in fluid
Container/Transportation:
• Submit specimen in a sterile leak-proof container
• Transport at room temperature as soon as possible
• Do not refrigerate or freeze specimen
Feces:
Specimen:
Preferred Volume: 10gms
Minimum Volume: 1gm
• Pass specimen directly into container
• Never submit a swab
Container/Transportation:
• Submit specimen in sterile leak-proof container
• Submit at room temperature as soon as possible
• If delayed > 1 hour refrigerate specimen
• Do not freeze specimen
Gastric Wash or Lavage:
Specimen must be processed immediately upon arrival to laboratory. Mycobacteria die rapidly in gastric washings
Specimen:
• Collect in early morning before patient eats and while still in bed
• Perform lavage with 25-50mL of chilled, sterile, distilled water
• Recover sample and place in sterile leak-proof container
Container/Transportation:
• Submit specimen in sterile leak-proof container
• Transport at room temperature as soon as possible
• If delayed > 1 hour neutralize with 100mg sodium carbonate within one hour of collection
Respiratory: lower bronchoalveolar lavage, brush or wash, endotracheal aspirate, transtracheal aspirate:
Specimen
• Preferred Volume: 50mL
• Minimum Volume: 4mL
• Collect washing or aspirate in a sputum tran and place the brush in a sterile - leak proof container with up to 5mL of sterile saline
Container/Transportation
• Sterile container
• Transport specimen at room temperature as soon as possible
• If delayed > 1 hour, refrigerate specimen
Sputum: Expectorated or induced
Specimen: Preferred Volume: 10mL
Minimum Volume: 4mL
Number of Collections: 3 expectorated collections. 8-24 hours apart
Replica Limits: 1 collection every 8 hour period
• Instruct patient to cough deeply to produce a lower respiratory specimen
Container/Transportation:
• Collect specimen in sterile container
• Transport specimen at room temperature as soon as possible
• If delayed > 1 hour refrigerate specimen
Tissue/Lymph Node:
Specimen:
Preferred Volume: 1gm
• Aseptically collect during surgery or cutaneous biopsy procedure
• Add 2-3mL sterile saline to specimen
Container/Transportation:
• Submit specimen in sterile leak-proof container with 2-3 mL saline
• Transport at room temperature as soon as possible
Urine:
Specimen:
• Collect entire first morning specimen
• Replica limits: 1 collection per day on 3 consecutive days
Container/Transportation:
• Submit specimen in sterile leak-proof container
• Transport specimen at room temperature as soon as possible
• If delayed > 1 hour refrigerate specimen
Culture Collection Guide |
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Remarks
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• Includes Smear, Acid Fast Bacillus
• If possible, collect specimens prior to initiation of antimicrobial therapy.
• If collection occurs after initiation of antimicrobial therapy, document current therapy on requisition
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