Specimen Requirements

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

 

Bone Marrow

1. Obtain 1 mL of bone marrow in a dark green-top (sodium heparin) tube or a light green-top (lithium heparin) tube.

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

3. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature. If there is a delay in transport, send specimen refrigerated.

4. Causes for rejection:

A. Inadequately labeled specimen
B. Improper container

C. Insufficient specimen volume

Note:

1. Specimen source is required.

2. If multiple specimens are required, collect specimens on separate days. Individual specimen must be sent to laboratory on day of collection.

3. Same specimen may be used for #TBCU “Culture, Acid-Fast Bacilli (AFB)” and fungus cultures if the volume is adequate.

 

Body Fluid

1. Submit 1 mL of body fluid in a screw-capped, sterile vial.

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

3. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature. If there is a delay in transport, send specimen refrigerated.

4. Causes for rejection:

A. Inadequately labeled specimen
B. Improper container

C. Insufficient specimen volume

Note:

1. Specimen source is required.

2. If multiple specimens are required, collect specimens on separate days. Individual specimen must be sent to laboratory on day of collection.

3. Same specimen may be used for #TBCU “Culture, Acid-Fast Bacilli (AFB)” and fungus cultures if the volume is adequate.

 

Bronchial Washing/Tracheal Aspirate

1. Submit bronchial washing or tracheal aspirate in a screw-capped, sterile container.

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

3. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature. If there is a delay in transport, send specimen refrigerated.

4. Causes for rejection:

A. Inadequately labeled specimen
B. Improper container

C. Insufficient specimen volume

Note:

1. Specimen source is required.

2. Bronchial washing/tracheal aspirate is superior specimen to sputum since they are collected from more direct sites in the respiratory tract.

3. If multiple specimens are required, collect specimens on separate days. Individual specimen must be sent to laboratory on day of collection.

4. Same specimen may be used for #TBCU “Culture, Acid-Fast Bacilli (AFB)” and fungus cultures if the volume is adequate.

 

Sputum

1. Collect a first-morning, “deep-cough” sputum specimen in a screw-capped, sterile container. Do not add alcohol or preservatives.
2. Instruct patient to brush his/her teeth and/or rinse mouth well with water to minimize contaminating specimen with food particles, mouthwash, or oral drugs.

3. Instruct patient to take a deep breath, hold it momentarily, then cough deeply and vigorously into container, and collect 5 to 10 mL of discharged material.

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

5. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature. If there is a delay in transport, send specimen refrigerated.

6. Causes for rejection:

A. Inadequately labeled specimen
B. Improper container

C. Insufficient specimen volume

D. Multiple specimens collected same day

E. Sputum specimen consisting entirely of saliva

Note:

1. Specimen source is required.

2. If multiple specimens are required, collect specimens on separate days. Individual specimen must be sent to laboratory on day of collection.

3. Same specimen may be used for #TBCU “Culture, Acid-Fast Bacilli (AFB)” and fungus cultures if the volume is adequate.

 

Swab

1. Obtain specimen using a culture transport swab.

2. Return swab to culture transport container, and crush ampule to ensure specimen preservation.

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

4. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature. If there is a delay in transport, send specimen refrigerated.

5. Causes for rejection:

A. Inadequately labeled specimen
B. Improper container

C. Insufficient specimen volume

Note:

1. Specimen source is required.

2. If multiple specimens are required, collect specimens on separate days. Individual specimen must be sent to laboratory on day of collection.

3. Same specimen may be used for #TBCU “Culture, Acid-Fast Bacilli (AFB)” and fungus cultures if the volume is adequate.

 

Tissue

1. Place as much as possible of a piece of the biopsied tissue in a screw-capped, sterile, plastic container or screw-capped, sterile, glass tube supplied.

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

3. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature. If there is a delay in transport, send specimen refrigerated.

4. Causes for rejection:

A. Inadequately labeled specimen
B. Improper container

C. Insufficient specimen volume

Note:

1. Specimen source is required.

2. If multiple specimens are required, collect specimens on separate days. Individual specimen must be sent to laboratory on day of collection.

3. Same specimen may be used for #TBCU “Culture, Acid-Fast Bacilli (AFB)” and fungus cultures if the volume is adequate.

 

Urine

1. Collect a single, “clean voided,” first-morning urine specimen in a screw-capped, sterile urine container. No preservative.

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

3. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature. If there is a delay in transport, send specimen refrigerated.

4. Causes for rejection:

A. Inadequately labeled specimen
B. Improper container

C. Insufficient specimen volume

D. Multiple specimens collected same day

Note:

1. Specimen source is required.

2. If multiple specimens are required, collect specimens on separate days. Individual specimen must be sent to laboratory on day of collection.

3. Same specimen may be used for #TBCU “Culture, Acid-Fast Bacilli (AFB)” and fungus cultures if the volume is adequate.