Specimen Collection Manual: Tissue or Wound/Lesion, Fluid Collection - Bacterial, Fungal, AFB
Instructions
Materials/Supplies
- Sterile non-bacteriostatic saline.
- Sterile 10 cc syringes.
- Sterile screw-capped collection containers.
- ESwab Collection System.
Wound/Lesion (Skin, Sub-Cutaneous) Site Preparation Instructions
- Decontaminate the site with surgical soap and 70% ethyl or isopropyl alcohol.
- Rinse the wound well with sterile, non-bacteriostatic saline and allow to dry.
Specimen Collection Criteria
- Wearing a sterile glove, separate the wound margins with the thumb and forefinger of one hand or to make a small opening in a closed abscess with a sterile scalpel blade.
- Extend the tip of the swab into the depths of the wound/lesion.
- Place the swab into transport media and send to the Laboratory immediately. The specimen is stable at room temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F) for up to 8 hours.
- Alternately, fluid may be aspirated from a wound with a sterile syringe. That specimen can be placed into a sterile, screw-capped collection container for transport to the Laboratory.
- Collect tissues and fluids aseptically taking care to prevent cross-contamination when specimens are taken from multiple sites. Use different tubes for specimens from different sites.
- Autopsy specimens should be collected within 24 hours of the time of death.
Minimum Specimen Requirements*
Type of Culture |
Specimen Type |
Minimum Quantity |
Anaerobic |
Sterile Fluid |
1.0 mL |
Anaerobic |
Sterile Tissue |
5-10 mm3 |
Aerobic |
Sterile Fluid (Not CSF) |
2-4 mL (AFB requires another 5 mL) |
Aerobic |
Sterile Tissue |
5-10 mm3 |
Rejection Criteria
- Do not submit tissues for culture in formalin, or in containers that ever contained formalin.
- Do not use expired media. Check expiration date on all media prior to use.
- Swab specimens are unacceptable for AFB Cultures.
Reference
*Lynne S. Garcia, Editor-in-Chief. Specimen Collection, Transport, and Acceptability, Clinical Microbiology Procedures Handbook, 3rd Edition. ASM Press. Washington, D.C., 2010.
Contacts
Microbiology Laboratory – RO
248-551-8090
Name: Microbiology Laboratory – RO
Location:
Phone: 248-551-8090
Microbiology Laboratory – TR
248-964-6127
Name: Microbiology Laboratory – TR
Location:
Phone: 248-964-6127
Microbiology Laboratory – GP
313-473-1802
Name: Microbiology Laboratory – GP
Location:
Phone: 313-473-1802
Last Updated
10/10/2019
Microtainer® and Vacutainer® are registered trademarks of Becton, Dickinson and Company.
UroVysion® is a registered trademark of Abbott Laboratories. ThinPrep® is a registered trademark of Hologic, Incorporated.
This directory currently reflects information only for specimens collected and/or processed at the
Farmington Hills, Grosse Pointe, Royal Oak, and Troy campuses.