Specimen Requirements

Specimen must arrive within 24 hours of collection.

1. Collect specimen using a culture transport swab or submit piece of tissue/bone in a sterile cup.

    (Improperly labeled specimen or specimen received >24 hrs of collection is not acceptable.)

2. Return swab to culture transport tube, and crush ampule to ensure specimen preservation.

3. Label tube 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 swabs must be sent for acid-fast and fungal cultures.

3. If infection with anaerobic organism is suspected, please submit sample also using an

    Anaerobic Transport Swab.  Acceptable sources for anaerobic culture include abscesses,

    wounds, sterile body fluids and tissues.