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HelpTest Code NP Culture, Nasopharyngeal
Methodology
Conventional Culture TechniqueNote: Due to the presence of a large variety of normal flora, no Gram stain will be performed on this specimen type.
Performing Laboratory
Aspen Valley HospitalSpecimen Requirements
Specimen must arrive within 48 hours of collection.
1. Aseptically collect specimen from active margin, where suspected organism will most likely be found, using Mini-tip CULTURETTETM or BBLTM CultureSwabTM Plus supplied from Nursing Unit Pyxis or Laboratory for Outreach Offices. (Specimen submitted in non-sterile container or specimen delayed >4 hours [unless collected on BBLTM CultureSwabTM Plus] is not acceptable.)
2. Slide swab along floor of nose (hand down by patient’s chin to start swab) with very light pressure to nasopharyngeal wall.
3. Rotate swab and remove along floor of nose.
4. Return swab to sterile culture transport tube to ensure specimen preservation.
5. Label specimen 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. 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.