Specimen Requirements

Specimen Type: Throat

Container/Tube: ESwab collection kit

Collection Instructions:

1.  Tilt patient’s head back to assist in opening the mouth as wide as possible and depress tongue with a tongue depressor so swab doesn’t touch oral mucosa or tongue.

2.  In one continuous motion, using Eswab:

• Swab 1 tonsillar area up then down.
• Move to back of throat as far down as possible and swab.  If the patient has complained of a certain spot being sore, swab that area well.
• Move to other tonsillar area and swab.
• Swab behind uvula and remove swab.

3.  Insert the ESwab into the tube and break the swab shaft at the breakpoint indicated by the colored line marked on the swab shaft.  Discard the remaining broken portion of the swab shaft and replace cap on transport tube.

4.  Label tube with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.