Specimen Requirements

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Acceptable Specimens:

Any closed abscess, aspirated body fluid, lower respiratory secretions (obtained by percutaneous transtracheal aspiration), sinus tract, tissue, urine (obtained by suprapubic aspiration with needle and syringe), uterine cavity, or wound (deep)

Unacceptable Specimens:

Any area with fecal contamination; catheter tip; cervical, prostatic, or vaginal secretions; decubiti; gingival or nasopharyngeal swabs; single-channel bronchoscope or gastric washings; skin ulcers; sputum; superficial skin lesions; throat; or voided urine

Body Fluid
1. Aseptically aspirate 0.5 mL of body fluid.

2. Transfer specimen to a Port-a-Cul® vial.

3. Label vial 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.

Note:  Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

Closed Abscess

1. Prepare site, wash wound margins well with antiseptic soap, and rinse with sterile saline.
2. Aseptically aspirate 0.5 mL of specimen using a needle and syringe.
3. Transfer specimen to a Port-a-Cul® vial.
4. If submitting specimen in syringe, remove needle and cap syringe.
5. Label vial/syringe 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 is required on request form for processing.

Lower Respiratory Tract Secretions

1. Aseptically collect 0.5 mL of lower respiratory tract secretions by percutaneous transtracheal aspiration.

2. Transfer specimen to a Port-a-Cul® vial.

3. Label vial 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.

Note:  Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

Sinus Tract/Uterine Cavity/Wound (Deep)

1. Aseptically collect 0.5 mL of specimen by syringe aspiration using a plastic intravenous type of catheter threaded into infected site.

2. Transfer specimen to a Port-a-Cul® vial.

3. Label vial 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.

Note:  Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

Swab

1. Aseptically collect specimen from abscess cavity.

2. Transfer specimen to a Port-a-Cul® vial.

3. Label vial 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.

Note:  Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

Tissue Biopsy

1. Aseptically collect tissue by surgical excision.

2. Transfer specimen to a Port-a-Cul® vial.

3. Label vial 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.

Note:  Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

Urine (Suprapubic Aspirate)

1. Aseptically collect 0.5 mL of urine using a needle and syringe.
2. Transfer specimen to a Port-a-Cul® vial.
3. If submitting specimen in syringe, remove needle and cap syringe.
4. Label vial/syringe 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 is required on request form for processing.