Specimen Requirements

An aerobic and an anaerobic specimen are required for this test.

Aerobic Culture

Specimen must arrive within 48 hours of collection.

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Acceptable Specimens:
Abscess, body fluid, decubitis exudate, deep wound, percutaneous transtracheal aspirate, pilonidal abscess, single-channel bronchoscope, or urine (suprapubic aspirate or bladder aspirate only)

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

2. Return swab to sterile culture transport tube to ensure specimen preservation.

3. Label tube 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. If fastidious bacteria such as Neisseria gonorrhoeae or Streptococcus pneumoniae is suspected, specimen should arrive within ≤24 hours of collection.

2. Collect before start of antibiotic therapy whenever possible.

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

Anaerobic Culture

Specimen must arrive within 18 hours of collection for plating on appropriate media.

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.