Specimen Requirements

Specimen Type: Any site

Container /Tube:

Preferred: Culturette swab, sterile container, plain red top tube or capped syringe.

Acceptable: Inoculated agar plate(s)

Specimen volume: 1 mL

Specimen Minimum Volume: 0.25 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Obtain specimen before antibiotics or other antimicrobial agents have been administered.

2. Collect where the suspected organism is most likely to be found and with as little external contamination as possible.

3. A closed abscess is the specimen site of choice. Aspirate the abscess contents with a syringe.

4. For most open lesions and abscesses, remove the superficial flora by decontaminating the skin before collecting a specimen from the advancing margin or base.

5. Specimens should be of sufficient quantity and placed in sterile containers.

Additional Instructions: Specify exact specimen site.