Specimens
accepted 24 hours, 7 days a week, however, submit between
7:00 and 22:30 whenever possible.
Culture results: Preliminary after
48 hours; Final after 3-5 days.
Stat
Request
No
Additional
Information
Does not include Routine
Culture or Gram Stain (these must be ordered separately).
SPECIMEN REQUIREMENTS
Specimen
Type
Wound,
Abscess, Drainage, Tissue, Body Fluids, Surgical
Specimens
NOT
ACCEPTABLE: Specimens not collected in anaerobic
transport device, cervical or vaginal specimens,
expectorated sputum, bronchoscopic specimens above the
oropharynx, gastric and small bowel contents, large bowel
contents and feces (except for Clostridium Botulinum),
voided and catheterized urine, urethral specimens,
ileostomy and colostomy specimens, specimens from the
oropharynx or nasopharynx, heart valve
Specimen
Amount
Swab, tissue,
fluid, exudate, any amount
Container
Aspirates in
sterile syringes and tissues are preferable. Anaerobic
transport device (Anaswab or Port-a-cult) or sterile
container only for tissues and large quantities of body
fluids if submitted immediately after collection.
Collection
Refer to
collection instructions for applicable specimen type when
appropriate. Wear gloves during all collection procedures
to avoid specimen contamination.
Surface wounds:
Clean the orifice of sinus tract, surrounding skin or
exterior of abscess with antiseptic to reduce
contamination. Open the lesion and express pus if
possible.
Deep Closed Wounds:
Decontaminate the skin surface. Obtain the specimen as
close to the base of active infection as possible.
Aspirate material using a needle and syringe. Expel any
air from the syringe. Remove the needle and cap the
syringe with plastic cap.
Collection using anaerobic
transport tube: If the specimen is obtained by swab, hold
the tube upright, unscrew the cap and insert the swab
into the gel. Break off the swab, leaving at
least 1 inch above the top of the gel, and
secure cap tightly. Small pieces of tissue may also be
placed in the tube on top of the gel surface. DO
NOT imbed tissue into the gel. Place larger
pieces of tissue in a sterile container and deliver
immediately to the laboratory.
Labeling
Refer to
Pathology- 'Collection of Specimen'
Transport
DO
NOT REFRIGERATE!Do not use pneumatic
tube system for transport to lab. Transport
ASAP. If transport will be delayed > 30 minutes after collection, allow
specimen to remain at room temperature. For tissue specimens, transport immediately if
unable to use anaerobic transport tube.
To
Cancel
Cancel on
HBOC and discard barcode label.
HBOC
Downtime
Use a
Microbiology Test Order Form. Check Cult-Anaerobic.
Complete all requested information and indicate specimen
source.
