Specimen Requirements

Specimen must arrive within 24 hours of collection.

Acceptable Specimens:
Body fluid, bone marrow, sputum, swab, tissue, or vaginal

Body Fluid

1. Submit 1 mL of body fluid in a screw-capped, sterile container.

2. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), specimen source, and date and time of collection.

3. Send specimen refrigerated.

4. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

Note: Specimen source is required.

Bone Marrow

1. Obtain 1 mL of bone marrow in a screw-capped, sterile container.

2. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), specimen source, and date and time of collection.

3. Send specimen refrigerated.

4. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

Note: Specimen source is required.

Sputum

1. Aseptically collect 5 to 10 mL of sputum from an early-morning collection and place in a screw-capped, sterile container.

2. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), specimen source, and date and time of collection.
3. Send specimen refrigerated.

4. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.
Note: Specimen source is required.

Swab

1. Obtain specimen using a culture transport swab.

2. Label swab with patient’s name (first and last), specimen source, and date and time of collection.
3. Send specimen refrigerated.

4. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

Note: Specimen source is required.

Tissue

1. Submit pea-sized tissue in a screw-capped, sterile container.
2. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), specimen source, and date and time of collection.
3. Send specimen refrigerated.

4. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

Note: Specimen source is required.

Blood

1. Refer to collection procedure described in Blood Culture, Fungus test

Vaginal

1. Obtain specimen from infected site.
2. Insert culture swab into vagina or swab endocervix.

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

4. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), specimen source, and date and time of collection.
5. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

Note: Specimen source is required.