MICROBIOLOGY

PROPER COLLECTION OF
SPECIMENS
Prepared by: Grace L. Pong, RMT
Northern Mindanao Medical Center
Microbiology Supervisor
 Objectives
 To provide a reliable and relevant information
as a part of the infectious disease process
 To recover the most important pathogens that
are involved in the diagnostic process
 • General Guidelines for Specimen
Collection
1. Specimen must be obtained before antibiotics
or other antimicrobial agents have been
administered.
2. Materials must be collected from the infection
site where the suspected organism is most
likely to be found.
3. Sterile containers without transport medium or
preservative must be used for the collection of
urine, sputum, CSF, serous fluids and
transudates.
4. Cotton-tipped applicator sticks are used for
specimens from the throat, nose, eye,
wound, abscesses and rectum.
5. Blood should be collected in a sterile blood
culture broth.
6. Material for culture should be obtained
during the acute stage of the disease.
7. Sufficient quantity should be collected to permit
complete examination.
8. Specimen should be TRANSPORTED to the
laboratory AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
9.All specimens must be labelled with the
PATIENT’S NAME, DATE AND TIME OF
COLLECTION.
10. All specimens must be accompanied with
the laboratory request form indicating the
patient’s name, age, sex, hospital number,
clinical diagnosis, date and time of collection,
type of specimen, and the test requested.
Microbiology Request Form
Clinical Specimens for Bacterial Culture
 Blood
 Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)
 Respiratory Specimens
-Sputum
-Endotracheal aspirate; tracheal aspirate or
nasopharyngeal aspirate/swab
-Throat Swab
 Urine
 Fecal/Rectal Swab
 Urogenital specimen
-Urethral swab
-Cervical swab
-Vaginal swab
 Wound/Ear/Eye discharge
 Collection Instructions for Different
Clinical Specimens
1. BLOOD
 Collected to detect and identify bacteria
causing an infection
 Tests include aerobic culture and susceptibility
of all types of organism except normal skin
flora
 Must be collected aseptically prior to initiation
of antimicrobial therapy
 Blood Volume:
1ml – 3 ml = children (pedsplus-yellow)
8ml – 10 ml = adult (green)
 Initial result should be available after 3 DAYS
 Final report should be available after 5 DAYS
2. CSF
 The examination of CSF is an essential step in the

diagnosis of bacterial meningitis.

 Always considered as a priority specimen that requires

prompt attention by the laboratory staff

 Collection:

-Invasive procedure should be performed only

by physicians.
-Once the specimen is collected, it should be
transported immediately to the laboratory.
 Volume:
Minimum volume: 1 ML collected into 2
tubes (1 for culture,
1 for other exam)
 Container:
Sterile vial or tube
 Final Report: after 72 hours
3. Respiratory Specimens
3.1 Sputum
Patient Preparation:
The patient should be instructed to cough
deeply and expectorate sputum into the
proper container.
Collection:
 Early morning freshly expectorated sputum
 Sent directly to the laboratory for processing
Volume:
2 – 10 ML
Container:
Sterile wide-mouth container
Final Report: after 3 DAYS
Suitability of Sputum for Culture
3.2 Nasopharyngeal Aspirate/Swab/
Endotracheal Aspirates
Collection:
- Specimen is collected from mucus extractor
connected to a nasogastric tube.
Final Result: after 3 DAYS
3.3 Throat Swab
Collection and Transport:
 In a good light condition and using sterile
tongue depressor, the tonsillar area is
examined for inflammation and the presence of
any membrane or pus.
 A sterile cotton or alginate swab is used to

swab the affected area.

 The swab is transported to the laboratory for

direct processing.
 Urine
Patient Preparation:
Patient is instructed for proper
collection of “clean-catch” urine.
Collection and Transport:
-morning urine (mid-stream collection)
Volume:
10 – 15 ML
Container:
Sterile wide-mouthed bottle
Final Result: after 3 DAYS
5. Fecal/Rectal Swab
-Fecal specimens should be collected in the
early stages of the disease, before antibiotic
treatment is started.
-Rectal swab is preferred for isolation of
bacteria that invade the mucus of the lower
intestine.
Collection:
-Fresh faecal or rectal swab (at least 2 swabs)
-Collected during acute stage of diarrhea
Container:
-Clear mouthed container with a tight fitting
leak proof lid
Reporting of Result:
-If an enteric pathogen is isolated, result should
be available after 72 hours.
-If no enteric pathogen is found “No important
enteric pathogen isolated” should be reported
6. Urogenital Specimens
Urethral swab, Cervical swab, Vaginal swab
Container:
-Sterile tube
Final Result: after 72 hours
7. Wound/Ear/Eye Discharge
Collection:
- Purulent material is aspirated aseptically
collected.
- Transferred to a sterile container
- Should be transported as soon as possible to
the laboratory for immediate processing.
Volume:
1 – 2 swabs or 2ml of aseptically aspirated pus
Container:
Sterile vial
Final Results: after 72 hours
“GOOD SPECIMEN COLLECTION
RENDERS GOOD RESULTS”

Thank you for listening!

Criteria for Rejection of Specimens
1. Dry specimen
2. No proper labelling of specimen
3. Quantity not sufficient
4. No proper data in the request form
5. Specimens not in proper container
6. Exposed/Contaminated specimen
7. Long standing specimen
8. Incubated, Refrigerated, with preservative