Physician Office Specimen Requirements

Container/Tube:  Culture swab transport

Specimen:  Swab of throat

Collection Instructions:  1. Obtain specimen using a culture swab.
2. Tilt patient’s head back to assist in opening of mouth as wide as possible.
3. Depress tongue with a tongue depressor so swab does not touch oral mucosa or tongue.

4. If patient has complained of 1 spot being sore, swab that area well.

5. In 1 continuous motion:

A. Swab 1 tonsillar area up then down.

B. Move to back of throat as far down as possible and swab there.

C. Move to other tonsillar area and swab.

D. Swab behind uvula and remove swab.

6. Return swab to transport tube.

7. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature.

Note:  Label tube 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.