Specimen Requirements
Minimum 1.0 mL body fluid in sterile container.
Alternately,
- swab inoculated with infected material immersed in transport media
- body fluid in syringe with needle removed
- blood culture bottle inoculated with fluid (gram stain cannot be performed with this option)
Supplies for Submission
Culture Swab (1) or Sterile Container (1)
Specimen Collection
- Before ordering, please contact Microbiology Department.
- Specify the type of body fluid on the container and the requisition.
- Call for STAT pickup, as the specimen must reach the lab on the same day as collection day.
Storage Requirements
Critical Room Temperature.
Swab specimens are stable if stored at room temperature for under 72 hours.
However, body fluid in sterile containers (not swab) are stable for 24 hours.
Causes for Rejections
Specimens with the following conditions are not accepted:
- swabs arriving at the referral lab more than 2 days after collection
- swabs not submitted in transport media
- submitted in viral transport media, formalin or other fixatives
- submitted in leaky container, non-sterile container, or tissue paper
- dry swabs
- frozen