Specimen Required

Specimen must be received in laboratory within 24 hours of collection.

Specimen source is required.

Acceptable Specimens:  Peritoneal, pleural, pericardial, synovial, or vitreous fluid

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Specimen Type:  Peritoneal, pleural, pericardial or vitreous fluid

Container/Tube:  Screw-capped, sterile container or Bactec bottle, syringe with Luer cap

Specimen Volume:  Entire collection

Preferred:  > 20 ml

Minimum: 1 ml

Collection Instructions: 

1.  Aseptically collect specimen by aspiration

2.  Label container (bottle) with patient's name (first and last), medical record number, date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.

3. Swab is not acceptable  

Specimen Type:  Synovial fluid

Container/Tube:  Yellow-top sodium polyanetholesulfonate (SPS) or sterile container

Specimen Volume:  Entire collection

Collection Instructions: 

1.  Aseptically collect specimen .

2. Invert several times to mix synovial fluid

3.  Label container (bottle) with patient's name (first and last), medical record number, date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.

4. Swab is not acceptable