Culture / General (Routine Bacteria) See Microbiology Appendix A for Collection

Test Code:

Patient Preparation:

Specimen Collection:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STAT?:

Special Handling/Transport:

Reference Range:

Critical Value (If Applicable)

URC  

None

1.        Anaerobic:  Aspirate the deepest portion of the lesion or sinus tract (aspirate pus if present), place in Port-A-Cul Fluid transport vial and transport to Laboratory ASAP.  If unable to aspirate, swab the affected area with a Copan swab.

2.        Blood:    See Blood Culture.

3.        Body Fluids: (Except blood, CAPD, CSF or Urine)  1 - 5 ml minimum in Port-A-Cul Fluid transport vial.  Transport to Laboratory ASAP.

4.        Bronchoscopy:  (Transbronchial biopsy, bronchial washing, brushing, or lavage) 1 - 2 ml in sterile screw top container.  Transport to Laboratory ASAP.

5.         CAPD Dialysate: Approximately 50 ml in a sterile screw top container. Transport to Laboratory ASAP.

6.        Catheter Tip (IV): 2 - 3 inches of catheter segment in a sterile screw-top container

7.        Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF): Minimum of 1 ml in a sterile screw top tube. Transport to Laboratory ASAP.

8.        Ear: Swab affected area with a Copan swab.

9.       Eye:        Moisten swab with sterile saline and swab affected area. Place swab in Copan Transport tube. If corneal scraping, Microbiology Department (x 74150) can assist the ophthalmologist with direct plating at bedside.

10.     Gall Bladder/Bile:  Place in a sterile screw top container, if fluid, 1-5ml recommended. Transport to Laboratory ASAP.

11.     Intravenous (IV)/ Shunt Site:  See Anaerobic.

12.     Joint Fluid :  See Body Fluid.

13.     Miscellaneous:  Call Microbiology Department for information x 74150.

14.     Nasal:  Swab affected area with Copan Swab.

15.     Peritoneal Fluid:   See Body Fluid.

16.      Pleural Fluid:  See Body Fluid.

17.      Skin:  See Anaerobic.

18.      Sputum/Trachial  Aspirates:  3 - 5 ml of material from deep cough in sterile screw top container or suction tube.  Refrigerate Aspirates and transport to Laboratory ASAP.

19.     Stool: 1gm stool in stool culture holding media (PARA-PAK C&S)medium

20.     Throat:   Swab affected area with a Copan swab.

21.     Tissue:   1 - 3 cm (if possible) of specimen. Place specimen into sterile screw-top container.

22.     Urine:     1 - 10 ml in urine holding media.

23.     Urogenital:    Swab affected area using a Copan Swab.

24.     Wound: See Anaerobic.

No

See above listings by source.

N/A

Depends on source of specimen, clinical condition of patient, organism  isolate and number of organisms isolated.