Recommended Samples
Printer-friendly versionSamples from the Urinary Tract
|
Investigation |
Specimen |
Container |
|
Bacterial M,C &S |
MSU, CSU |
Urine Monovette |
|
Mycobacterial culture |
Complete EMU x 3 |
500ml Sterile Container |
|
Prostatitis diagnosis |
Void Bladder 1,2 & 3 +/- EPS |
Sterile Universal |
|
Schistosome microscopy |
Terminal urine specimen |
Sterile Universal |
|
Viral culture |
MSU |
Sterile Universal |
Samples from the Lower Respiratory Tract
|
Investigation |
Specimen |
Container |
|
Bacterial M,C &S |
Sputum or BAL |
Sterile Universal |
|
Antigen detection or culture for Legionella sp |
Sputum |
Sterile Universal |
|
Mycobacterial culture |
Sputum x 3 |
Sterile Universal |
|
Serology for respiratory pathogens |
Serum samples x 2 collected at presentation and 10-14 days subsequently |
Serum Gel Monovette (brown top) |
Samples from the Upper Respiratory Tract
|
Investigation |
Specimen |
Container |
|
Bacterial C&S |
Throat swab |
Swab in Bacterial Transport Medium (BTM) |
|
Viral PCR testing |
Throat swab |
Swab in Virus Transport Medium (VTM) |
|
Bacterial M,C&S |
Epiglottis swab ONLY if airway secure |
Swab in BTM |
|
Bacterial/Fungal culture |
Mouth swab |
Swab in BTM |
|
Bacterial C&S |
Nose swab |
Swab in BTM |
|
Bacterial/Fungal culture |
Ear swab |
Swab in BTM |
Ophthalmological Samples
|
Investigation |
Specimen |
Container |
|
M,C&S (Adult patient) |
Conjunctival swab |
Swab in Bacterial Transport Medium (BTM) |
|
M,C&S (Neonate) |
Conjunctival swab |
Swab in BTM |
|
Virus detection |
Conjunctival swab |
Swab in Virus Transport Medium (VTM) |
|
Chlamydia investigation |
Conjunctival scrapings |
Swab in Abbott Multicollect Kit for Chlamydia |
|
M,C&S |
Chamber fluids and lenses |
Sterile Universal |
|
Culture for Acanthamoeba |
Corneal scrapings, contact lenses/fluid |
Sterile Universal in sterile saline |
Samples from the Gastro-Intestinal Tract
|
Investigation |
Specimen |
Container |
|
Culture for Salmonellae, Shigellae, Campylobacter sp. and E.coli O157 |
Faeces |
Faeces Pot |
|
Microscopy for Ova, Cysts and Parasites, including 'Hot' Stool |
Faeces |
Faeces Pot |
|
Clostridium difficile toxin |
Faeces |
Faeces Pot |
|
Virus detection |
Faeces |
Faeces Pot |
|
Threadworm demonstration |
'Sellotape' applied to peri-anal skin |
'Sellotape' applied to slide |
Samples from the Genital Tract
|
Investigation |
Specimen |
Container |
|
Investigation of vaginal discharge |
HVS |
Swab in Bacterial Transport Medium (BTM) |
|
Investigation of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (including Chlamydia) |
ECS x 2 |
Swab in BTM and Abbott Multicollect Kit for chlamydia |
|
Chlamydia/Neisseria gonorrhoeae |
Cervical swab Or Urethral swab Or Urine Or Self-taken vaginal swab |
Abbott Multicollect Kit for chlamydia |
|
Herpes simplex PCR |
ECS / lesion swab |
Swab in Virus Traansport Medium (VTM) |
Pus, tissue or fluid and cutaneous infections
|
Investigation |
Specimen |
Container |
|
Bacterial M,C&S |
Wound / ulcer swab |
Swab in Bacterial Transp[ort Medium (BTM) |
|
M,C&S |
Tissue, fluid or pus |
Dry, sterile container |
|
Screening for Group B streptococci |
Nose, ear and umbilical swabs |
Pre-moistened swab in BTM |
|
Viral infections |
Vesicular fluid |
Swab in Virus Transport Medium (VTM) |
|
Fungal infections |
Hair, nail or skin clippings |
DermaPak or Dry Sterile Universal container |
|
Screening for MRSA |
Nose, throat, axillae and perineum swabs, plus wounds, lesions or CSU |
Pre-moistened swab in BTM |
Blood
|
Investigation |
Specimen |
Container |
|
Gentamicin Assay |
Pre and 1 hour post dose blood samples |
Serum Gel Monovette (brown top) |
|
Rubella serology |
Blood |
Serum Gel Monovette |
|
HIV |
Blood - please note protocols for high-risk specimens |
Serum Gel Monovette |
|
Hepatitis A serology |
Blood |
Serum Gel Monovette |
|
Hepatitis B surface antigen |
Blood - please note protocols for high-risk specimens |
Serum Gel Monovette |
|
Hepatitis C serology |
Blood - please note protocols for high-risk specimens |
Serum Gel Monovette |
|
Other Serology testing |
Blood - please note protocols for high-risk specimens |
Serum Gel Monovette |
|
PCR Testing |
Blood(Plasma)- please note protocols for high-risk specimens |
EDTA sample |
