Specimen Requirements

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Bone
1. Collect small pieces of bone in a screw-capped, sterile container. (Whole appendage or limb is not acceptable.)

2. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), hospital identification number or date of birth, date and  time of collection, and source of specimen.

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

D. Specimen received in formalin
Note:

1. Specimen source is required.

2. Whenever possible, bacteriological examinations should be carried out before antibiotic therapy is instituted.
3. Separate pieces of bone must be submitted for TB culture or fungal cultures.

Tissue
1. Collect tissue aseptically in a screw-capped, sterile culture transport container. (Whole appendage or limb is not acceptable.)

2. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), hospital identification number or date of birth, date and  time of collection, and source of specimen.

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.