Specimen Requirements

Specimen must arrive within 2 hours of collection.

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Preferred:

Bronchial Lavage

1. Aseptically collect >1 mL of bronchial lavage in a sterile sputum trap.

2. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.
3. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.
Note:  1. Acceptability is 1 specimen per day per source.

2. Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

Alternate:

Bronchial Aspirate or Wash

1. Aseptically collect >1 mL of bronchial aspirate or wash in a sterile sputum trap.
2. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.
3. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.
Note:  1. Acceptability is 1 specimen per day per source.

2. Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

Bronchial Brush
1. Submit bronchial brush in a screw-capped, sterile container with 1 mL of saline.
2. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.
3. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.
Note:  1. Acceptability is 1 specimen per day per source.

2. Specimen source is required on request form for processing.