Specimen Requirements

1. Obtain 1 mL of bone marrow in thioglycolate broth container supplied.

2. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, diagnosis, physician’s name, type of specimen, and hospital identification number and department.

3. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature only.

4. Causes for rejection:

A. Inadequately labeled specimen
B. Improper container

C. Insufficient specimen volume
Note: 1. Specimen source is required.

2. Whenever possible bacteriological examinations should be carried out before antibiotic therapy is instituted.
3. The same specimen may be used for #TBCU “Culture, Acid-Fast Bacilli (AFB)” and fungus culture if the specimen is of adequate volume (6-8 mL) for all tests requested.