Specimen Requirements

1. Prepare site:  Wash wound margins well with antiseptic.

2. Aseptically collect specimen with needle and syringe.

3. Label syringe 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.

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

5. Causes for rejection:
A. Inadequately labeled specimen
B. Improper container
C. Insufficient specimen volume

Note:  1. Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

2. Gram stains are routinely performed on all wound cultures.

3. If a swab specimen is only way to obtain specimen, it will be accepted.

4. If anaerobes are suspected as the primary etiologic agent, an anaerobically collected specimen should also be submitted. Wounds are known to grown anaerobes.