Specimen Requirements

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

 

Abscess

Specimen must arrive within 2 hours of collection.

1. Aspirate abscess with sterile needle and syringe.

2. Sample base of lesion and abscess wall.

3. Transfer >1 mL of aspirate into a screw-capped, sterile container.
4. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.
5. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature only. 
Note:  Specimen source and suspected fungal species are required on request form for processing.

 

Body Fluid

Specimen must arrive within 15 minutes of collection.

 

Acceptable Specimens:

Joint, paracentesis, pericardial, peritoneal, pleural, synovial, or thoracentesis fluid

 

Unacceptable Specimens:

Swab dipped in fluid

1. Disinfect overlying skin with iodine or ChloraPrep® preparation.

2. Obtain specimen via needle, percutaneous needle aspiration, or surgery.

3. Always submit as much fluid as possible, >1 mL is recommended.

4. Place specimen in a screw-capped, sterile vial or collect with culturette.

5. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.
6. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature only.
Note:  Specimen source and suspected fungal species are required on request form for processing.

 

Bone Marrow Aspirate

Specimen must arrive within 24 hours of collection if being sent in blood culture tube.

 

1. Prepare site as for surgical incision.

2. Inoculate Isolator® tube.

3. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.
4. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature only.
Note:  Specimen source and suspected fungal species are required on request form for processing.

 

Corneal Scrapings

1. Instill 2 drops of local anesthetic.

2. Cleanse skin around eye with mild antiseptic.

3. Using a sterile spatula, scrape ulcers or lesions.

4. Transfer specimen to a screw-capped, sterile container.

5. Apply remaining material to 2 clean, glass slides for KOH prep.

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

7. Maintain sterility and forward promptly an ambient temperature.

Note:  Specimen source and suspected fungal species are required on request form for processing.

 

Ear-External

Specimen must arrive within 2 hours of collection.

 

1. Use moistened swab to remove any debris or crust from ear canal.

2. Obtain a sample by firmly rotating swab in outer ear canal.

3. Place swab into transport tube, pushing swab all the way down until it is immersed in transport fluid.

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

5. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature only. Do not refrigerate.

Note:  1. For otitis externa, vigorous swabbing is required since surface swabbing may miss streptococcal cellulitis.

2. Topical ointments or drugs in or on the site to be cultured must be avoided.

3. Specimen source and suspected fungal species are required on request form for processing.

 

Eye-Fluid or Aspirates

Specimen must arrive within 15 minutes of collection.

 

1. Prepare eye for needle aspiration of fluid.

2. After obtaining aspirate, transfer specimen to a screw-capped, sterile container or tube.

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

4. Maintain sterility and forward promptly an ambient temperature.

Note:  Specimen source and suspected fungal species are required on request form for processing.

 

Prostatic Fluid

Specimen must arrive within 15 minutes of collection.

 

1. Cleanse glans with soap and water.

2. Massage prostate through rectum.

3. Collect fluid on a sterile swab or in a screw-capped, sterile container.

4. Place swab into swab transport.

5. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.
6. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature only

Note:  Specimen source and suspected fungal species are required on request form for processing.

 

Respiratory-Lower

Specimens 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:  Specimen source and suspected fungal species are 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:  Specimen source and suspected fungal species are 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. There is a short survival time for dimorphic pathogens.

2. Specimen source and suspected fungal species are required on request form for processing.

 

Respiratory-Upper

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

 

Nasal Sinus

Specimen must arrive within 2 hours of collection.

 

1. Obtain sinus contents via surgical removal.

2. Place sinus material in a sterile, moistened gauze placed in a screw-capped, sterile container.

3. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.
4. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

Note:  Specimen source and suspected fungal species are required on request form for processing.

 

Oral

Specimen must arrive within 2 hours of collection.

 

1. Swab active lesions; saline swish for candida.

2. Place specimen into transport medium or a screw-capped, sterile container.

3. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.
4. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

Note:  Specimen source and suspected fungal species are required on request form for processing.

 

Sputum, Expectorated

Specimen must arrive within 2 hours of collection.

1. Under direct supervision of a nurse or physician, collect specimen as follows:

A. 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.

B. Have patient remove dentures.

C. Instruct patient to take a deep breath, hold it momentarily, then cough deeply and vigorously into container, and collect >1 mL of discharged material. (Postnasal fluid is not acceptable.)
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 at ambient temperature only.
Note:  Specimen source and suspected fungal species are required on request form for processing.

 

Sputum, Induced

Specimen must arrive within 2 hours of collection.

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. With the aid of nebulizer, have patient inhale 25 mL of 3% to 10% sterile saline.

3. Collect induced sputum into a screw-capped, sterile container.

4. Avoid sputum contamination with nebulizer reservoir water.

5. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.
6. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature only.
Note:  Specimen source and suspected fungal species are required on request form for processing.

Spinal Fluid
Specimen must arrive within 15 minutes of collection.

 

1. Submit at least 2 mL of spinal fluid in a screw-capped, sterile vial.

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

3. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature only. Do not refrigerate.

Note:  1. If only 1 tube of spinal fluid is collected, it should be submitted to the Microbiology Department first. Otherwise, submit tube 2 to the Microbiology Department.

2. Specimen source and suspected fungal species are required on request form for processing.

 

Subcutaneous Granules

Specimen must arrive within 15 minutes of collection.

 

1. Collect pus, exudate, biopsy, draining sinus tracts, or solid dressings.

2. Wash granules several times in saline containing antibiotics.

3. Send specimen in a screw-capped, sterile container.

4. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.
5. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature only.
Note:  Specimen source and suspected fungal species are required on request form for processing.

 

Tissue
Specimen must arrive within 15 minutes of collection.

 

1. Submit as much tissue as possible in a screw-capped, sterile container.

2. Never submit a swab that has been simply rubbed over the surface.

3. For small samples, add several drops of sterile saline to keep specimen moist.

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

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

Note:  Specimen source and suspected fungal species are required on request form for processing.

 

Urine
1. Collect a clean-catch, midstream urine specimen as follows:

 

Males
A. Prepare obstetrical Towelettes® by opening packages (do not remove Towelettes® until ready to use), and place them on sink. Take top off of plastic urine container, and set it on edge of sink. Set Towelettes® and container so that they can be reached while urinating.
B. Holding back foreskin with 1 hand, if necessary, use first Towelette® to wash end of penis. Discard first Towelette® in wastebasket.
C. Continue holding back foreskin; and gently rinse end of penis using second and third Towelette®, discarding them in wastebasket when done.
D. Continue holding back foreskin, and begin to urinate into toilet.

 

Females
A. Prepare obstetrical Towelettes® by opening packages (do not remove Towelettes® until ready to use), and place them on sink. Take top off of plastic urine container, and set it on edge of sink. Set Towelettes® and container so that they can be reached while urinating.
B. Pull panties below the knees so they will not interfere with urine collection. With 2 fingers of 1 hand, hold outer folds of vagina apart. With other hand, gently wash vaginal area from front to back, using first Towelette®. After this step, throw away first Towelette® in wastebasket.
C. Still holding outer vaginal skin away from opening through which urination takes place, rinse area from front to back using Towelette® #2, discard, and then repeat with Towelette® #3.
D. Continue holding outer vaginal folds apart and begin to urinate into toilet. Lean slightly forward so that urine flows directly down without running along skin.
2. After first few teaspoons, place screw-capped, sterile container under stream of urine; and collect rest of urine in container. Even 1/4 cup is an adequate specimen for test.
3. After finishing, tighten cap on container securely; and wash any spilled urine from outside of container.

4. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.
5. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature only.
Note:  Specimen source and suspected fungal species are required on request form for processing.

 

Vaginal

1. Collect specimen 1 hour after patient has urinated.

2. Wipe away excessive amount of secretion or discharge.

3. Obtain secretion from mucosal membrane of vaginal vault with a sterile swab or pipette.

Note:  For intrauterine devices, place entire device into a screw-capped, sterile container.

4. Place swab into Anaerobic Transport System.

5. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.
6. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature only.

Note:  Specimen source and suspected fungal species are required on request form for processing.

 

Wound, Open

Specimen must arrive within 2 hours of collection.

 

1. Prepare site:  wash wound margins well with antiseptic.
2. Aspirate or swab deeply. Sample base of lesion and abscess wall.
3. Place specimen in a screw-capped, sterile container.
4. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.
5. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature only. 
Note:  Specimen source and suspected fungal species are required on request form for processing.