Microbiology

MICROBIOLOGY

To ensure the quality of Microbiology specimens, please follow the recommended collection procedures listed here:

SPECIMEN TYPE:AFB (Acid Fast Bacilli)

CONTAINER: Sterile container with tight fitting top,

INSTRUCTIONS:

SPUTUM – Deep cough, morning.
URINE – Mid stream, early morning
WOUND – Sample of exudate or excised tissue. Do NOT submit a swab. All specimens are processed in-house, with positive cultures being sent to State Laboratory for identification and sensitivity.

SPECIMEN TYPE: BLOOD

CONTAINER:

Two blood culture bottles for direct inoculation. If ARD is requested, special resin culture bottles must be used.
Cleanse top of bottle with single use alcohol swab only.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Cleanse skin over venipuncture site with 70% alcohol. Follow with 2% Tincture of Iodine or Povidine Iodine in a circular motion – allow to remain on skin 1 minute.
If palpation is needed, prep fingers in identical fashion.

Perform venipuncture.
Place 5cc in each bottle for adults, 1 cc in each bottle for infants.
DO NOT Refrigerate. Do NOT leave bottles on counter until end of day or shift.
TRANSPORT IMMEDIATELY.

SPECIMEN TYPE: CSF

CONTAINER: Sterile, clean screw capped tube(s). Follow physician’s instructions.

INSTRUCTIONS:

SPECIMEN TYPE: GC (Neisseria Gonorrhoeae)

CONTAINER:
Sterile Swab
Jembec Plates (GC plates)

INSTRUCTIONS:

To be collected only by physician or nurse.
Use speculum without lubricant.
FEMALE: Swab high in vaginal canal
MALE: Insert swab well into urethra. Streak Jembec plate at bedside. TRANSPORT IMMEDIATELY.

SPECIMEN: Herpes

CONTAINER: Collection kit obtained from Laboratory.

INSTRUCTIONS:

SPECIMEN: THROAT (CULTURE)

CONTAINER: Culturette or Copan Swab

INSTRUCTIONS:

Depress tongue with depressor
Insert swab through mouth, being careful not to touch any other surface.
Roll swab over both tonsillar area and/or any visible throat crypts. Especially swab any inflammed areas.
Return swab to holder. Label with name, date and time.

SPECIMEN: SPUTUM

CONTAINER: Sterile container with tight fitting top

INSTRUCTIONS:

Obtain early morning specimen unless otherwise ordered.
Have patient rinse mouth with water, clearing any nasal secretions before cough.
Instruct patient to raise sputum by deep coughing.
Determine adequate specimen: Should be more viscid (thick) than saliva, and usually will be colored or white but not clear.
5ml is required.
TRANSPORT IMMEDIATELY.

SPECIMEN: STOOL FOR CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE TOXIN

CONTAINER: Clean vial with NO preservatives

INSTRUCTIONS: Must be liquid stool; all formed stools will be rejected.

SPECIMEN: STOOL FOR CULTURE, O & P, WBC, ROTAVIRUS, GIARDIA/CRYPTOSPORIDIUM ANTIGEN

CONTAINER: Parapak - set containing Proto-fix & ETM (Can be used for culture, O&P, WBC, rotavirus and Giardia antigen.)

INSTRUCTIONS:

Collect specimen in bedpan (make sure specimen is free of urine) and transfer to media.
Collect first morning specimen if possible.
With infants, may collect from diaper or use rectal swab. Do NOT send diaper with absorbed specimen.

SPECIMEN - SURFACE WOUND:

SPECIMEN - DEEP WOUND:

Sterile needle and syringe.
To be collected only by physician or at specific request of physician.
Cleanse skin.
If possible, aspirate encapsulated lesion with needle and syringe and transport to laboratory immediately with needle cover over needle.

URINE - MIDSTREAM:

URINE - CATHETERIZED:

Sterile container.
Decontaminate catheter line with alcohol swab. Aspirate urine through connector on sampling port with needle and syringe. Do not culture Foley catheter tips. Do not collect urine from Foley bag
Avoiding contamination, place in sterile container.
Transport immediately.