Physician Office Specimen Requirements

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Ascites Fluid

Container/Tube:  BACTEC^TM aerobic bottle (grey label), and a BACTEC^TM anaerobic bottle (purple label), and a SPS tube
Specimen:  23 mL of ascites fluid - 10 mL in each, BACTEC^TM aerobic bottle, and BACTEC^TM anaerobic bottle, and 3 mL in SPS tube for Gram stain.

Transport Temperature:  Ambient - Do not place on wet ice or refrigerate.

Collection Instructions:  Specimen should be collected by invasive radiology (direct image-guided aspiration). Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature only.

Note:  1. Indicate ascites fluid on request form.

2. Label bottles with patient’s full name and 1 additional unique patient identifier such as date of birth, medical record number, emergency ID number, date and time of collection, collector’s initials, and type of specimen.

Body Fluid

Container/Tube:  Sterile, leakproof tube; aerobic yellow-top SPS tube, BBL^TM Port-A-Cul^TM  vial

Specimen: 1 mL to 5 mL (minimum volume:  1 mL) of body fluid

Transport Temperature:  Ambient - Do not place on wet ice or refrigerate.

Collection Instructions:  Specimen should be collected by percutaneous or intra-operative aspiration using aseptic technique. It is recommended that fluid be collected with a sterile needle and syringe, that any air bubbles present in the syringe be expelled, and body fluid be aseptically injected into an anaerobic fluid transport vial. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature only.

Note:  1. Indicate body fluid on request form.

2. Label tube/vial with patient’s full name and 1 additional unique patient identifier such as date of birth, medical record number, emergency ID number, date and time of collection, collector’s initials, and type of specimen.