Specimen Requirements

Specimen source is required. Indicate suspected fungal species.Submit only 1 of the following specimens: Specimen Type: Abscess, aspirate, or pusContainer/Tube: Sterile containerSpecimen Volume:Entire collectionCollection Instructions:Label container with patient’s name (first and last), medical record number or date of birth, specimen source, and date and time of collection.Specimen Type: Bone or bone marrowContainer/Tube: Sterile containerSpecimen Volume:Entire collection of bone or 1 mL of bone marrowCollection Instructions:1. Cleanse skin with povidone iodine.>2. Collect bone marrow by sterile percutaneous aspiration in heparinized syringe.>3. Transfer specimen to sterile container.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.Specimen Type: Cervical or vaginalContainer/Tube: Sterile culture swab in sterile culture transport tubeSpecimen Volume:SwabCollection Instructions: 1. Obtain specimen from infected site.>2. Insert swab into vagina or swab endocervix.>3. Return swab to sterile culture transport tube.4. Label tube with patient’s name (first and last), medical record number or date of birth, specimen source, and date and time of collection.Additional Information: Procedure is performed primarily for identification of Candida species.Specimen Type: Gastric washingsContainer/Tube: Sterile containersSpecimen Volume:A series of 3 in separate containersCollection Instructions:Label container with patient’s name (first and last), medical record number or date of birth, specimen source, and date and time of collection.Specimen Type: Spinal fluidContainer/Tube: Sterile vialsSpecimen Volume:1-2 mLCollection Instructions:Label vials with patient’s name (first and last), medical record number or date of birth, specimen source, and date and time of collection.Vials should be numbered in sequence with #1 representing first portion of specimen obtained.Additional Information: Second vial collected during lumbar puncture is most suitable for culture, as skin contaminants from puncture usually wash out with fluid collected in first vial.Specimen Type: Sputum; first-morning, “deep-cough” specimenContainer/Tube: Sterile containerSpecimen Volume:5-10 mLCollection Instructions:1.Have patient remove dentures., if applicable.2. Instruct patient to brush his/her teeth and/or rinse mouth well with water to minimize contaminating specimen with food particles, mouthwash, or oral drugs.3. Instruct patient to take a deep breath, hold it momentarily, then cough deeply and vigorously into container. Cough induction by inhalation of a saline aerosol is acceptable.4. Do not add alcohol or preservatives.5. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), medical record number or date of birth, specimen source, and date and time of collection.6. Nasal secretions, saliva, or 24-hour collection is not acceptable.Specimen Type: Stool, fresh, randomContainer/Tube: Sterile container free of contamination with urine, residual soap, or disinfectantsSpecimen Volume:1 gCollection Instructions:Label container with patient’s name (first and last), medical record number or date of birth, specimen source, and date and time of collection.Specimen Type: TissueContainer/Tube: Sterile containerSpecimen Volume:Entire collectionCollection Instructions:Label container with patient’s name (first and last), medical record number or date of birth, specimen source, and date and time of collection.Specimen Type: Urine, catheterized,first-morning collectionContainer/Tube:Sterile urine containerSpecimen Volume:5 mLcollected on 3 consecutive daysCollection Instructions: 1. Avoid sending urine that has remained stagnant in catheter tubing for any length of time; do not send catheter bag urine; and avoid sending urine from catheters that have been in place longer than 5 to 9 days.>2. Clean catheter with an alcohol sponge, puncture with sterile needle, and collect in sterile syringe.>3. Pour urine into sterile container. Mix well.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.Specimen Type: Urine, clean-catch, midstreamContainer/Tube: Sterile urine containerSpecimen Volume:5 mLcollected on 3 consecutive daysCollection Instructions: 1. Patient shouldcleanse with moist towelettes, and then begin to urinate into toilet.2.Follow instructions inUrine Collectionin Special Instructions.3.After first few teaspoons, placesterile container under stream of urine and collect rest of urine in container. Even 1/4 cup is an adequate specimen for test.4.After finishing, tighten cap on container securely and wash any spilled urine from outside of container.5.Label container with patient’s name (first and last), medical record number or date of birth, specimen source, and date and time of collection.