Specimen Requirements

Specimen source is required.  Submit only one of the following specimens:

Specimen Type: Sterile body fluid, wound or abscess

Container/Tube: Anaerobic transport vial

Specimen Volume: Entire specimen

Collection Instructions:

1. Prepare site, wash wound margins well with antiseptic soap, rinse with sterile saline.
2. Using needle and syringe, aspirate fluid.
3. Transfer entire volume of aspirated fluid to vial.
4. If submitting specimen in syringe, remove needle and cap syringe.
5. Label vial/container/syringe with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection.

Specimen Type: Transtracheal aspirate

Container/Tube: Anaerobic transport vial

Specimen Volume: Entire specimen

Collection Instructions:

1. Prepare site.
2. Aseptically collect secretions by percutaneous transtracheal aspiration.
3. Transfer entire volume of secretions to vial.
4. If submitting specimen in syringe, remove needle and cap syringe.
5. Label vial/container/syringe with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection.

Specimen Type: Urine (suprapubic aspirate)

Container/Tube: Anaerobic transport vial or screw-capped, sterile container

Specimen Volume: 10-15 mL

Collection Instructions:  

1. 4 to 6 hours should have elapsed since last urination.
2. Clean suprapubic skin with iodine followed by alcohol.
3. Insert 22-gauge needle attached to a 20-mL syringe into skin at about a 30° angle to abdominal wall, immediately superior to the symphysis in midline.
4. Aspirating as one penetrates, stop as urine is obtained; fill syringe with urine (infants may require a smaller syringe and needle).
5. Transfer urine to vial or container.  If submitting specimen in syringe, remove needle and cap syringe.
6. Label vial/container/syringe with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection.

Specimen Type: Urine (urostomy)

Container/Tube: Anaerobic transport vial or screw-capped, sterile container

Specimen Volume: 10-15 mL

Collection Instructions:

Preferred Method:

1. Remove the old collection pouch, if any.
2. Prepare site, wash wound margins well with antiseptic soap, and rinse with sterile saline.
3. Clean the stoma site with warm water and sterile gauze.Very scant bleeding around the edges of the stoma may be normal.  Bleeding from within the stoma may indicate a urinary tract infection or other abnormality.
4. Insert the #14 rubber in-and-out catheter into the stoma site and advance it about 2 to 2.25 inches. If you meet resistance before reaching 2 inches, rotate the catheter gently until it slides forward. If it still meets resistance, do not force it any farther.  
5. If urine does not flow into the catheter, ask the patient to shift position and/or cough to mobilize the urine.
6. Collect 10 to 15 mL of urine, remove the catheter, and cap the container.
7. Reapply the external collection appliance, if any.
8. Label vial/container/syringe with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection.

Alternate Method:

1. If the patient cannot be catheterized, gently cleanse the site with warm water and apply a fresh, new collection appliance.
2. Wait for urine to collect in the appliance and then use the appliance’s drain to place urine into the sterile specimen cup.

Note: If the patient is an outpatient coming to a clinic, you may ask the patient or family to perform the warm water cleansing and application of a fresh, new appliance that morning so there will be urine in the bag when the patient arrives at the appointment.

Specimen Rejection:

1. Specimen >24 hours old

2. Swabs are suboptimal specimens