MICROBIOLOGY
To ensure the
quality of Microbiology specimens, please follow the recommended
collection procedures listed here:
-
NOTE: Please
place all cultures containers in sealable plastic bags
-
Please label
all specimens with name, date, and time collected
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:
-
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:
-
Follow special
instructions in kit.
-
Fill out form
included in kit completely.
-
Sent to reference laboratory for
processing.
-
TRANSPORT IMMEDIATELY.
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:
-
COSPAN
Transport Swab for aerobic culture.
-
COSPAN
Transport Swab for anaerobic culture.
-
Open Lesion
and express pus onto swab.
-
Transport
immediately.
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:
-
Sterile container.
-
Catch urine in mid-stream. Instruct, assist patient.
-
Urine can be refrigerated up to 24 hours without change in
count.
-
Transport immediately
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.