Specimen Requirements

Acceptable Specimens: 

Note: Specimen source is required.

Cervical, Endocervial, Ocular, Oral, Penile, Rectal, Throat, Urethral, and Vaginal:  Call Barnes-Jewish Hospital Laboratory Customer Service at 314-362-1470 to obtain a BD ESwab Collection Kit or BD ESwab Minitip Collection Kit (ocular and penile specimens).

Discharge, Drainage:  Call Barnes-Jewish Hospital Laboratory Customer Service at 314-362-1470 to obtain BD ESwab Collection Kit or ≥1 mL in leakproof screw-capped, sterile container

Prostatic fluid, Semen: ≥1 mL in leakproof screw-capped, sterile container

Tissue (endometrium): ≥1 g in leakproof screw-capped, sterile container
 
Unacceptable Specimens:

Specimen collected with ESwab Collection Kit is unacceptable if received without fluid or swab in the transport tube.
Transport tube or specimen received refrigerated

Routine culturette swabs

Collection Procedure:

Discharge, Drainage
1. Disinfect surface of site to be cultured.
2. Aseptically collect purulent material by aspiration or by using an ESwab.  Frequently, viable organisms are only associated with abscess wall, so adequately sample this area. If material is aspirated, aseptically inject specimen into a sterile container.
3. Return ESwab into transport tube following instructions on kit. Specimen is unacceptable if received without fluid or swab in the transport tube.
4. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature only. Do not refrigerate.

Ocular
1. Cleanse skin around eye with mild antiseptic.
2. Gently remove makeup and ointment with sterile cotton and saline.
3. Collect specimen by passing ESwab 2 times over lower conjunctiva or over cornea. Avoid eyelid border and lashes (culture these separately in a similar fashion, if indicated).
4. Return ESwab into transport tube following instructions on kit. Specimen is unacceptable if received without fluid or swab in the transport tube
5. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature only. Do not refrigerate.
 
Genital (Cervical, endocervical, vaginal)
1. Do not use lubricant on speculum.
2. Remove cervical mucous before inserting ESwab into endocervical canal.
3. Insert ESwab into vagina or endocervical canal and move swab from side-to-side.
4. Return ESwab into transport tube following instructions on kit. Specimen is unacceptable if received without fluid or swab in the transport tube.
5. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature only. Do not refrigerate.
 
Penile or urethral
1. If using a mini-tip ESwab, gently scrape anterior urethral mucosa.
2. Use an ESwab to collect urethral discharge.
3. Return ESwab into transport tube following instructions on kit. Specimen is unacceptable if received without fluid or swab in the transport tube.
4. If fluid is collected, submit it in a leakproof screw-capped, sterile container.
5. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature only. Do not refrigerate.
 
Prostatic Fluid, Semen
1. Aseptically collect ≥1 mL of fluid.
2. Place specimen in a leakproof screw-capped, sterile container.
3. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature only. Do not refrigerate.
 
Rectal
1. Using ESwab, pass swab beyond anal sphincter.
2. Rotate swab and withdraw from rectum.
3. Return ESwab into transport tube following instructions on kit. Specimen is unacceptable if received without fluid or swab in the transport tube.
4. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature only. Do not refrigerate.
 
Throat
1. Depress tongue and rub ESwab over each tonsillar area and posterior pharynx.
2. Collect any exudate.
3. Avoid touching tongue and uvula.
4. Do not swab throat in cases of acute epiglottitis.
5. Return ESwab into transport tube following instructions on kit. Specimen is unacceptable if received without fluid or swab in the transport tube.
6. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature only. Do not refrigerate.
 
Tissue (Endometrium)
1. Aseptically collect ≥1 g of specimen.
2. Place specimen in a leakproof screw-capped, sterile container.
3. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature only. Do not refrigerate.