Specimen Requirements

Submit the Tip of the IV Catheter in a sterile container.

Specimen must arrive within 2 hours of collection.

Swab specimen is not recommended. However, if it is the only available method, collect specimen as follows:

1. Collect specimen using 2 culture transport swabs. (Improperly labeled specimen or specimen received >2 hours of collection is not acceptable.)

2. Place 1 swab in an ASC for anaerobic culture and 1 swab in a culture transport tube for aerobic culture.

3. Label tubes with patient’s name (first and last), date and time of collection, type of specimen, and collector’s initials.

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

Note: 1. Patient’s age, sex, clinical diagnosis, collection date and time, current antibiotic therapy, and specimen source are required.

2. Additional swab must be sent for acid-fast and fungal culture.