Specimen Requirements

Specimen Type: Body fluid or Spinal Fluid

Container/Tube:

Preferred:

Body Fluid:Red top vacutainer tube without additives and/or preservatives

CSF:Sterile, screw-capped transport tube (Tube #2 preferred)

Acceptable:
Syringe: Specimens obtained by a physician using needle aspiration should be transferred to a sterile tube or anaerobic transport vial prior to transport to the laboratory. If unable to transfer, remove the needle, using a protective device to avoid injury, and cap the syringe with a sterile cap prior to transporting it to the laboratory.
Large Volume Jars or Bags: Aseptically draw off the appropriate tubes for testing.
Swabs: Swabs afford the least desirable sample for culture of body fluids and should be discouraged as devices for transport.
Agar Plates: Inoculated per proper protocol
Specimen Volume: 3 mL
Specimen Minimum Volume: 0.1 mL
Collection Instructions: Collection per proper procedure by provider.

Additional Information:

1. Specify exact specimen site.

2. Submit entire body fluid collection to Rice Lab for storage and additional testing if needed.

3. See Body Fluid (Other Than CSF, Urine, Blood) in Special Instructions.