Specimen Requirements

Specimen source is required.

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Specimen Type: Spinal fluid

Container/Tube: Sterile vial

Specimen Volume: ≥0.5 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Skin preparation and collection will be done by physician.
2. Label vial with patient’s name (first and last), medical record number, date and actual time of collection, type of specimen, initials of person collecting specimen, and order in which vials were collected.

3. Submit spinal fluid from fourth vial collected in a series of 4.

Specimen Type: Synovial fluid

Container/Tube: Yellow top (SPS)

Specimen Volume: Entire collection

Collection Instructions:

1. Aseptically collect specimen.
2. Invert several times to mix fluid.
3. Label tube with patient’s name (first and last), medical record number, date and actual time of collection, type of specimen, and initials of person collecting specimen.

Specimen Type:  Body Fluid  (peritoneal, pleural, pericardial, vitreous bile)

Container/Tube:  Sterile container

Specimen Volume:  Up to 50 ml  in sterile syringe , screw capped

Collection Instructions: 

1. Aseptially collect specimen by aspiration

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

Specimen Type: Swab specimen

Container/Tube: Culturette swab in sterile culture transport tube or sterile container

Specimen Volume: Swab

Collection Instructions:

1. Place swab in transport tube or sterile container.
2. Label tube/container with patient’s name (first and last), medical record number, date and actual time of collection, type of specimen, and initials of person collecting specimen.