Specimen Requirements

Specimen Type: Abscesses, percutaneous transtracheal aspirates, sterile body fluids, suprapubic aspirations, and wounds

Collection Container/Tube: First choice: tissue, fluid, aspirate, biopsy, etc. 

Second choice:  CultureSwab® Plus (blue cap)

Note: A white cap swab should be obtained if gram stain is requested.

Collection Instructions:

1. Maintain sterility.

2. Label with patient's name, second unique identifier (e.g. medical record number or date of birth), date and time of collection.

3. Specimen source is required.

4. Specimen should arrive within 24 hours of collection.

Collection Instructions: For most open lesions and abscesses, remove superficial flora by decontaminating skin before collecting a specimen from advancing margin or base.