Specimen Requirements

Specimen must arrive within 2 hours of collection.

 

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

 

Females

Cervix

1. Remove mucus and secretions from cervix, and discard swab.

2. Firmly, yet gently, sample endocervical canal with a newly obtained sterile, aerobic/anaerobic swab.

3. Place swab into Aerobic/Anaerobic Transport System.
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:  1. Acceptability is 1 specimen per day.

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

 

Lesions

1. Clean lesion with sterile saline and lesion surface with a sterile scalpel blade.

2. Allow transudate to accumulate.

3. While pressing the base of the lesion, firmly sample exudate with a sterile, aerobic/anaerobic swab.

4. Place swab into Aerobic/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:  1. Acceptability is 1 specimen per day.

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

 

Vagina

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, aerobic/anaerobic swab or sterile pipette.

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

4. Place specimen into Aerobic/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:  1. Acceptability is 1 specimen per day.

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

 

Males

Lesions

1. Clean lesion with sterile saline and lesion surface with a sterile scalpel blade.

2. Allow transudate to accumulate.

3. While pressing the base of the lesion, firmly sample exudate with a sterile, aerobic/anaerobic swab.

4. Place swab into Aerobic/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:  1. Acceptability is 1 specimen per day.

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

 

Rectum

1. Carefully insert swab 0.1 inch beyond anal sphincter.

2. Gently rotate sterile, aerobic/anaerobic swab to sample anal crypts.

3. Place swab into Aerobic/Anaerobic Transport System.
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:  1. Acceptability is 1 specimen per day.

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

 

Throat

1. Depress tongue with a tongue depressor.

2. Sample posterior pharynx, tonsils, and inflamed areas with a sterile, aerobic/anaerobic swab.

3. Place swab into Aerobic/Anaerobic Transport System.

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:  1. Acceptability is 1 specimen per day.

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

 

Urethra

1. Insert a urethrogenital swab 2 cm to 4 cm into urethral lumen, rotate swab, and leave it in place for 2 seconds to facilitate absorption.

2. Place swab into Anaerobic Transport System.

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:  1. Acceptability is 1 specimen per day.

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