1.      Safety considerations

Follow universal precaution guidelines by treating all specimens as potentially hazardous. Avoid contamination of the external surfaces of specimen containers and of the accompanying request forms.
 
 
2.     General guidelines for specimen collection
       

• If possible, specimen should be collected prior to administering antibiotics.
       
• Avoid contamination with resident physiologic flora,
       
• Use an aseptic technique to avoid introduction of microbes during invasive procedures.
       
• Collect an adequate amount of specimen as inadequate amounts may yield false- negative results
       
• Identify the specimen source and /or specific site correctly so that proper culture media will be selected during processing in the laboratory.
       
• Collect specimens in sterile containers with tightly fitted lids (e. screw cap)
       
• All samples must be labelled with a minimum of three patient identifiers (Forename, Surname, DOB, Address) 
and NHS number wherever possible.
 

 
3.     Transport all specimens to the laboratory promptly!
       
       Alternatives to prompt delivery:
       
        Refrigerate most specimens at 2 - 8oC but please be aware of the following exceptions:
a.)   if blood is cultured in broth ( BacT/ALERT bottles), incubate at room temperature (15-25oC) until they are sent to the laboratory. Blood culture bottles can be sent by air tube pod system to   Pathology Reception.
b.)   Stool specimens for amoebic dysentery:     stool should be sent to the laboratory immediately after being passed (“hot stool”).
 
4.      All samples submitted to the laboratory for examination must be accompanied by a request
  form signed by a Healthcare Professional and containing:
◦    patient identifying data – Forename, Surname, DOB, Address
◦    Specimen type and site if applicable
◦    date and time of collection
◦    relevant clinical details – Antibiotic therapy, etc, where appropriate
◦    examination required
◦    GP name and address OR Consultant name and ward/location
◦    The patient's NHS number should be included where-ever possible
All samples are normally retained within the laboratory until 48 hours after an authorised report has been issued