Specimen Requirements

Acceptable Specimens:

Abscess, aspirate, or non-superficial wound: 1 ESwab per test request, ≥1g in leakproof, screw-capped, sterile container, or ≥1 mL in anaerobic transport device

Biopsy, bone, cyst, lymph node, or tissue: ≥1g in leakproof, screw-capped, sterile container, or >1g in anaerobic transport device

Bone marrow: ≥1mL in Isolator tube

Endometrium: >1g in leakproof, screw-capped, sterile container, or >1g in anaerobic tranport device

Eye: ocular fluid (anterior chamber, aqueous humor, vitreous) - >0.5mL in leakproof, screw-capped, sterile container; (cornea or corneal scraping) - any amount of specimen in leakproof, screw-capped, sterile container. 

Genital (penile only): 1 ESwab per test request or >1mL in anaerobic transport device 

Fluids (amniotic, bile, CSF, ocular, paracentesis, pericardial, peritoneal, peritoneal dialysis fluid, pleural, prostatic, synovial): >1 mL in leakproof, screw-capped, sterile container, or ≥1 mL in anaerobic transport device

Placenta: >1g in leakproof, screw-capped, sterile container, or >1g in anaerobic transport device

Prosthetic: any amount in leakproof,  screw-capped sterile container or anaerobic transport device

Valve: valve in leakproof, screw-capped, sterile container or anaerobic transport device

Note: Call Barnes-Jewish Hospital Laboratory Customer Service at 314-362-1470 to obtain a BD ESwab Collection Kit or anaerobic transport device.

Unacceptable Specimens:

Acceptable specimens noted above that are not received in anaerobic transport device or ESwab kit. Specimen is unacceptable if received without fluid or swab in the transport tube.

Bile, catheter tip, drainage, donor storage solution, hardware, lesion, non-sterile genital sites, ocular swab, respiratory secretions (upper and lower), stone, stool, superficial wound, ulcer, urine, or vesicle

Collection Procedure:

Note: Specimen source is required.

Abscess, Aspirate, or Non-Superficial Wound
1. Disinfect surface of abscess or wound.
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, clean top of anaerobic transport device with alcohol prep and allow to dry completely. Aseptically inject specimen into device. If ESwab is used return ESwab into transport tube following instructions on kit. Specimen is unacceptable if received without fluid or swab in the transport tube.
3. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

Biopsy, Bone, Cyst, Lymph Node, or Tissue
1. Aseptically collect ≥2 g of specimen and place >1g in a leakproof, screw-capped, sterile container and >1g in an anaerobic transport device. Because there may be only a few viable organisms, specimen must be large enough to permit their recovery.
2. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

Bone Marrow

1. Clean top of anaerobic transport device with povidone iodine and allow to dry completely.
2. Aseptically collect specimen as per normal protocol.
3. Inject > 1 mL into one, 1.5-mL Isolator tube.
4. Mix tube immediately by inverting 4 to 5 times.
5. Maintain sterility and forward promptly. Do not send via pneumatic tube system.

Endometrium

1. Aseptically collect >2g of specimen and place >1g in a leakproof, screw-capped, sterile container and >1g in an anaerobic transport device. Because there may only be a few viable organisms, specimen must be large enough to permit their recovery.

2. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

Eye (NOT ocular swabs)

1. Cornea (corneal scraping)

A. Using sterile spatula, scrape ulcers or lesions into small, leakproof scraw-capped sterile container or Eswab collection kit.

B. Moisten specimen with a minimum amount of sterile saline.

C. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

2. Ocular fluid (anterior chamber, aqueous humor, vitreous)

A. Aseptically collect >0.5mL of fluid.

B. Place speciment in leakproof, screw-capped, sterile container.

C. Maintain sterility and foward promptly.

Additional information on ocular specimen collection instructions can be found here.

Fluid (amniotic, bile, CSF, ocular, paracentesis, pericardial, peritoneal, peritoneal dialysis fluid, pleural, prostatic, synovial, etc.)
1. Aseptically collect ≥2mL of fluid in a screw-capped, sterile container.
2. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

Placenta

1. Aseptically collect >1g specimen.

2. Place in leakproof, screw-capped, sterile container.

3. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

Valve

1. Aseptically collect valve.

2. Place specimen in leakproof, screw-capped, sterile container.

3. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.