Specimen Requirements

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Acceptable Specimens:
Abscess, body fluid, deep wound, or percutaneous transtracheal aspirate

Unacceptable Specimens:
Cervical, colostomy drainage, decubitis exudate, feces, gastric, gingival, nasopharyngeal, perirectal abscess, pilonidal abscess, single-channel bronchoscope, sputum, superficial wound, throat, urine, or vaginal

1. Aseptically collect specimen from where suspected organism will most likely be found.

2. Place specimen in anaerobic transport medium supplied from Nursing Unit Pyxis or Laboratory for Outreach Offices. (Specimen submitted in non-sterile container or specimen delayed >20 minutes [unless collected in Anaerobic Transport Media] is not acceptable.)

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

4. Forward promptly at ambient temperature only. Do not refrigerate.

Note:  1. Collect before start of antibiotic therapy whenever possible.

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