Specimen Requirements

Whenever possible, culture specimens should be obtained before antibiotics or antimicrobial agents have been administered.

 

Acceptable Specimens: Body fluid, bone marrow, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), hair, mouth, nails, respiratory, skin scrapings, stool, synovial fluid, tissue, urine, vagina, or wound

Unacceptable Specimens: Blood (See individual test listing.)

 

Specimen source is required.

 

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

 

Specimen Type: Body fluid (preferred)

Container/Tube: Port-A-Cul Vial

Specimen Volume: ≤5 mL

Specimen Minimum Volume: 0.5 mL

Additional Information:

1. Label vial with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and source/type of specimen.

2. If there is a delay in transport of >1 hour, send specimen refrigerated.

 

Specimen Type: Body fluid (alternate)

Container/Tube: Sterile container or red top

Specimen Volume: 80-100 mL

Specimen Minimum Volume: 0.5-5 mL

Additional Information:

1. Label container/tube with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and source/type of specimen.

2. If there is a delay in transport of >1 hour, send specimen refrigerated.

 

Specimen Type: Bone marrow

Container/Tube: Green top (sodium heparin)

Specimen Volume: Entire collection

Specimen Minimum Volume: 1 mL

Collection Instructions: EDTA tube is not acceptable.

Additional Information:

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

2. KOH not performed.

3. If a large green-top (sodium heparin) tube is collected for bacterial culture, there is no need to collect additional bone marrow for AFB and/or fungi.

 

Specimen Type: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

Container/Tube: 3 sterile vials

Specimen Volume: ≥5 mL

Specimen Minimum Volume: 3 mL

Additional Information:

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

2. KOH not performed. Cryptococcal Antigen, Spinal Fluid (LABCRYAC), is orderable separately, and is no longer included within this test listing.

3. Clearly label specimens collected from a shunt.

 

Specimen Type: Hair, nails, or skin scrapings

Container/Tube: Petri dish or sterile container

Specimen Volume: Entire collection

Additional Information: Label dish/container with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and source/type of specimen.

 

Specimen Type: Mouth, vaginal, or wound swab

Container/Tube: Liquid Amies Elution Swab (ESwab) Copan 480C, Copan 480CE

Specimen Volume: Swab

Collection instructions:

1. Collect specimen using a bacterial culture swab.

2. Calcium alginate, cotton, non-sterile, or wooden-shafted swab is not acceptable.

3. Return swab to pre-moistened transport tube. Dry swab is not acceptable.

4. A separate swab is required for each culture ordered.

Additional Information: Label tube with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and source/type of specimen.

 

Specimen Type: Bronchial alveolar lavage (BAL)

Container/Tube: Sterile container

Specimen Volume: 80-100 mL

Specimen Minimum Volume: 5 mL

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

 

Specimen Type: Bronchial washing

Container/Tube: Sterile container

Specimen Volume: 80-100 mL

Specimen Minimum Volume: 5 mL

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

 

Specimen Type: Sputum, induced

Unacceptable Specimen: Nasal secretions or saliva (watery, colorless, foamy specimens)

Container/Tube: Sterile container

Specimen Volume: ≥5 mL

Specimen Minimum Volume: 1.5 mL

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

 

Specimen Type: Sputum, spontaneous

Unacceptable Specimen: Nasal secretions or saliva (watery, colorless, foamy specimens)

Container/Tube: Sterile container

Specimen Volume: ≥ 5 mL

Specimen Minimum Volume: 1.5 mL

Collection Instructions: Overnight accumulation of secretions usually give the best results, collect specimen in the morning as follows:

1. Instruct patient to brush his/her teeth and/or rinse mouth well with water to minimize contaminating specimen with food particles, mouthwash, or oral drugs.

2. Have patient remove dentures.

3. Instruct patient to take a deep breath, hold it momentarily, then cough deeply and vigorously into a screw-capped, sterile container.

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

 

Specimen Type: Tracheal secretions

Container/Tube: Sterile container

Specimen Volume: ≥5 mL

Specimen Minimum Volume: 1.5 mL

Collection Instructions: Specimen should be suctioned from an endotracheal tube.

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

 

Specimen Type: Synovial fluid (preferred)

Container/Tube: Port-A-Cul vial

Specimen Volume: ≤5 mL

Specimen Minimum Volume: 0.5 mL

Additional Information:

1. Label vial with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and source/type of specimen.

2. If there is a delay in transport of >1 hour, send specimen refrigerated.

 

Specimen Type: Synovial fluid (alternate)

Container/Tube: Red top; sterile container; or a capped syringe with needle removed

Specimen Volume: 5 mL

Specimen Minimum Volume: 3 mL

Additional Information:

1. Label container/syringe/tube with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and source/type of specimen.

2. If there is a delay in transport of >1 hour, send specimen refrigerated. 

3. Do not send through Pneumatic Tube System.

 

Specimen Type: Tissue

Container/Tube: Sterile container

Specimen Volume: 10 mm³

Specimen Minimum Volume: 5 mm³

Collection Instructions:

1. Specimen should be collected aseptically by a physician.
2. Moisten tissue with a small amount of sterile saline to prevent drying.

Additional Information:

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

2. If there is a delay in transport of >24 hours, send specimen refrigerated.

 

Specimen Type: Urine, random

Container/Tube: Sterile container

Specimen Volume: 80-100 mL

Specimen Minimum Volume: 20 mL

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