Specimen Requirements

 

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Specimen source and patient's address are required.

 

All specimens should be collected prior to the initiation of antimycobacterial chemotherapy. Avoid contamination with tap water or other fluids which may contain environmental mycobacteria, since superficial mycobacteria may produce a false-positive culture and/or smear result. Do not use any fixatives or preservatives.

 

Abscess

Specimen Type:  Cellulitis, eye exudate, skin lesion

Collection Container/Tube:  Sterile leak proof container

Specimen Volume:  Collect as much as possible

Collection Instructions:

1. Remove surface exudate by wiping with sterile saline or 70% alcohol.

2. Collect fluid abscess material with syringe.  Transfer to sterile container.

3. For open lesions/abscesses, aspirate material from under the margin of the lesion/abscess.

 

Reject Due To:

1. Formalin or other preservative

2. Swab

 

Bone Marrow

Specimen Type:  Bone marrow

Collection Container/Tube:  Green top (heparin) or Sterile Container

Specimen Volume:  10 mL

Specimen Minimum Volume:  1.5 mL 

Collection Instructions:

1. Collect aseptically

 

Body Fluid

Specimen Type: Body fluid (pleural, pericardial, peritoneal, etc.)

Collection Container/Tube: Sterile leak proof container.  Use an SPS blood collection tube for extremely bloody specimens

Specimen Volume: Collect as much as possible

Specimen Minimum Volume: 10 mL adult, 1 mL pediatric

Collection Instructions: Disinfect site with alcohol if collecting by needle and syringe.

 

Bronchoscopy Specimens

Specimen Type: Bronchoalveolar lavage, bronchial washings, bronchial brushings, endotracheal aspirate, transtracheal aspirate

Collection Container/Tube: Sterile leak proof container

Specimen Volume: 5 mL

Specimen Minimum Volume: 3 mL adult, 1 mL pediatric

Collection Instructions:

1. Place in sterile container with up to 5 mL sterile saline.

2. Avoid contaminating specimen with tap water.  Saprophytic mycobacteria may produce false positive culture or smear results.

 

CSF

Specimen Type: CSF

Collection Container/Tube: Sterile leak proof container

Specimen Volume: 10 mL

Specimen Minimum Volume: 2 mL

 

Gastric

Specimen Type:  Gastric aspirate, lavage fluid

Collection Container/Tube:  Sterile leak proof container

Specimen Volume:  <15 mL in 100 mg sodium carbonate.  Adjust to neutral pH.

Specimen Minimum Volume:  3 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Collect early in the morning before patient eats and while they are still in bed.

2. Perform lavage with 25-50 mL of chilled, sterile, distilled water.

3. One specimen/day on 3 consecutive days.

 

Sputum

Specimen Type: Sputum

Collection Container/Tube: Leak proof sterile container

Specimen Volume: 5-10 mL

Specimen Minimum Volume: 3 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Early morning specimen from deep, productive cough.

2. Have patient rinse mouth with water before collecting to minimize contamination with food, mouthwash, oral drugs, etc.

3. Induced sputum: Use sterile hypertonic saline.  Indicate on request if specimen is induced, as these watery specimens resemble saliva.

 

Reject Due To:

1. 24 hour pooled specimen

2. Multiple specimens taken from same day that are <8 hours apart.

3. Expectorated sputum that resembles saliva

4. Sputum submitted on swab

 

Tissue

Specimen Type: Tissue biopsy

Collection Container/Tube: Sterile container

Collection Instructions:

1. Collect asceptically during surgery or cutaneous biopsy procedure.

2. Add 2-3 mL saline for transport.

 

Reject Due To:

1. Specimen in formalin

2. Swab

 

Urine

Specimen Type: Urine

Collection Container/Tube: Sterile leak proof container

Specimen Volume: 40 mL adult, 10 mL pediatric

Specimen Minimum Volume: 10 mL adult, 5 mL pediatric

Collection Instructions:

1. First morning specimen is preferred..

 

Reject Due To:

1. 24 hour pooled specimen

2. Multiple specimens taken from same day