Parillo, Mari Jo - BMLS

Specimen Collection, Handling and Transport maintain the viability of N.

gonorrhoeae for extended periods.
 Specimen should be collected during the  0.025% Sodium Polyanethol
acute phase of illness. Sulfonate-Blood (Neisseria)
 Select the correct anatomic site.
 Cleanse site before collection Level of Specimen Prioritization
 Specimen should be a representation of  Level 1: Amniotic fluid, Blood, Brain,
infected site. CSF, Heart valves and Pericardial Fluid
 Quantity should be sufficient.  Level 2: Bones, feces, tissue, body
 Specimen should be collected before fluids
antibiotics.  Level 3: Catheter tip, urine, and tissue
 Swabs are poor specimen.  Level 4: Urine, tissue swabs in holding
 For lesions, wounds and abscesses, media.
collect from advancing margins.
 Give clear instructions to specimen. Specimen Storage
 Label specimen accurately
 Refrigerator: urine, stool, viral
Specimen Containers specimen, sputa and swabs.
 Incubator: CSF
 Use sterile containers.  Ambient Temperature: Fungal specimen
 Swabs for specimen from URT, external  Freezer temperature: serum for
ear, eye and genital tract serological studies
 Swabs are not recommended.  (-20 for 1 week), Tissues (-70 for long
 Use Dacron or calcium alginate storage)
swabs.
 Two swabs for gram stain and culture
Specimen Labelling

 Patient information (Complete name,

Date and time of collection, Test to be
performed)
 Identification of mislabelled specimen
or requisition form should not be done
over the form.
 Use exact anatomic site. Blood Culture

Transport  70% alcohol and iodophore

 Draw during febrile episodes
 Transport should be within 30 minutes.  2 sets from left and right arm
 Containers should be leak proof.  Use SPS tube (Sodium polyanethole
 Use proper preservative. sulfonate.
 Boric acid at room temperature for
24 hours. Body Fluids
 Charcoal- absorbs fat.
 Amniotic fluid
 Stuart, Amies, Cary Blair, transglow,
 Abdominal fluid
JEMBEC- provide a selective
 Peritonial fluid
environment that will protect and
 Joint
Parillo, Mari Jo - BMLS

 Synovial  Skin: scrape skin at the leading edge of

 Pericardial lesion.
 Pleural
Lower Respiratory Tract
Bone
 Anaerobic culture-catheter
 Disinfect skin before surgery.
Upper Respiratory Tract
 Sample should come from affected area.
 Requires homogenization  Nasopharynx
 Pharynx
CSF
Sputum
 Disinfect skin
 Consider rapid testing  First morning
 Storage: 6 hours ate 37 degree Celsius  Rinse mouth with sterile water prior
 Neisseria meningitiditis collection
 Haemophillus influenzae  TB-3 concecutive early morning
specimen
Conjunctiva  Deep cough
 Both eyes Types of Sputum
 Aerobic swab-stuarts or Amies or sterile
saline  Bloody
 Rusty
Corneal Scraping
 Purulent
 Instill local anesthetic before collection  Foamy white
 Frothy pink
Intrauterine Device (IUD)
Sputum Criteria
 Culture to detect Actinomyces spp.
Catheter

 Maki roll technique of inoculation

Genital Tract

 Bartholin Cyst
 Cervix
 Cul-de-sac Urine
 Endometrium  Midstream clean catch/First morning
 Urethra urine.
 Vagina  Straight Catheter- let 15mL pass
 Prostate  Indwelling- aspirate 5-10mL
Nails and Skin  Supra pubic- needle aspiration

 Wipe with 70% alcohol

 Hair: collect with intact shaft
 Nails: clippings of affected area