Specimen Requirements

Indicate if vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, toxigenic Escherichia coli, or fungi is suspected.

Specimen source is required.

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Rectal swab specimen is generally recommended only for infants.

Specimen Type: Rectal

Container/Tube: Culture transport swab in sterile culture transport tube

Specimen Volume: Swab

Collection Instructions:

1. Pass swab beyond anal sphincter.
2. Rotate swab and withdraw.
3. Return swab to sterile culture transport tube, and crush ampule to ensure specimen preservation.

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

5. As with other cultures, administration of antibiotics prior to culture may make recovery of pathogens difficult to impossible.

6. Rejection criteria include delay in transport of >2 hours in unpreserved specimen, delay in transport of >48 hours in EPT preservative vial, or multiple specimens within a 24 hour period.

Stool specimen must arrive in laboratory within 2 hours of collection. Specimen is optimal when obtained early in disease. If more than 1 stool culture is warranted, specimens should be collected 24 hours apart.

Specimen Type: Fresh stool, unpreserved or preserved

Container/Tube: Stool container or EPT preservative vial (orange-top)

Specimen Volume: 0.3-2 g

Collection Instructions:

1. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), medical record number or date of birth, specimen source, and date and time of collection.

2. As with other cultures, administration of antibiotics prior to culture may make recovery of pathogens difficult to impossible.

3. Rejection criteria include delay in transport of >2 hours in unpreserved specimen, delay in transport of >48 hours in EPT preservative vial, or multiple specimens within a 24 hour period.

Additional Information:

1. Specimen for culture is not accepted on inpatients after third inpatient day.

2. Specimen from bedpan may be unsatisfactory if residual soap, detergent, or disinfectant is left in pan or if contaminated by urine. Also, toilet paper that has been impregnated with bismuth salts may be injurious to organisms in feces.