Specimen Requirements

Preferred Collection Container: 

Sterile Container

Also Acceptable Collection Container: 

Copan ESwabs

Collection Information: 

Acceptable sources: Sputum, Bronchoalveolar Lavage, Gastric Aspirate, Urine, Body Fluid, Tissue
Acceptable containers: Sterile cup, Copan ESwabs

Sputum or Other Respiratory Specimen: Submit 5-10mL of sputum or any other respiratory specimen in a screw-capped, sterile container. 

Urine: Submit 5-10 mL of urine in a screw-capped, sterile container. Twenty-four hour urine samples are not acceptable for fungal culture.

Body Fluid: Submit 5-10mL of spinal fluid in a screw-capped, sterile container or capped syringe. 

Tissue (Incision or Biopsy): Submit fresh tissue or tissue in a small amount of saline (no formalin) in a screw-capped, sterile container. 

Transport Information: 

Indicate specimen source on the container, maintain sterility and foward promptly at room temperature. 

Gastric lavage specimens must be treated with equal parts 1% sodium bicarbonate prior to transport to reference laboratory.
To prepare 1% sodium bicarbonate from a 7.5 % solution:

1. Dilute 1.0 mL of 7.5% sodium bicarbonate with 13.0 mL of sterile deionized water.
2. Mix
3. Solution is stable 24 hours refrigerated.

Remarks: 

Aseptic technique must be used in obtaining, and transport of specimen.

Identification and susceptibility tests are billed separately from culture.

SWABS ARE NOT RECOMMENDED FOR THE ISOLATION OF MYCOBACTERIUM, SINCE THEY PROVIDE LIMITED SPECIMEN MATERIAL.

For patients with clinical and chest x-ray findings compatible with tuberculosis, three sputum samples should be collected over an 8-24 hour period of time (including at least one first morning specimen).