Specimen Requirements

Specimen must arrive within 48 hours of collection.

ESWAB is not acceptable

Collect a nares swab using a BBL Culture Swab as follows:

1. Open the swab package, and discard white cap from the transport tube.

2.Ask the patient to tilt his/her head back. Insert paired swabs approximately 1-2 cm (1/2  to ¾ inches) into each nostril. NOTE:  The swabs should stay attached to the cap at all times

3. Rotate the swabs against the inside of the nostril for 3 seconds, assuring good contact.

4. Repeat for the second nostril using the same paired swab trying not to touch anything but the inside of the nose.

5.Place the swabs into the plastic transport tube without allowing them to contact any other surfaces until they rest on top of the sponge at the bottom of the tube.  Make sure the red cap is seated tightly on the transport tube. 

6. Label the plastic transport tube with the patient's full name, birthdate or medical record number, source (nares), and collect date and time.

7. Send refrigerated.

8. Forward promptly.