Physician Office Specimen Requirements

Acceptable Specimens:

Bronchoalveolar lavage, bronchial washing, endoctracheal secretion, nasopharyngeal aspirate, nasopharyngeal swab, nasopharyngeal washing, throat swab, throat washing

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Preferred:

Nasopharyngeal Aspirate or Nasopharyngeal Washing

Container/Tube:  Screw-capped, sterile container

Specimen:  Nasopharyngeal aspirate or washing

Collection Instructions:  Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

Note:  Label container 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.

Nasopharyngeal Swab

Container/Tube:  Culture transport swab

Specimen:  Swab of nasopharyngeal

Collection Instructions:  1. Obtain specimen using flocked nasopharyngeal swab supplied.

2. Gently slide swab along floor of nose with very light pressure to nasopharyngeal wall.

3. Rotate swab slowly for 5 seconds to absorb secretions and remove along floor of nose.

4. Place swab in viral transport media.

5. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

Note:  Label container 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.

Acceptable:

Bronchoalveolar Lavage or Bronchial Washing

Container/Tube:  Screw-capped, sterile container

Specimen:  2 mL of bronchoalveolar lavage or bronchial washing

Collection Instructions:  Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

Note:  Label container 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.

Endotracheal Aspirate

Container/Tube:  Screw-capped, sterile container

Specimen:  2 mL of endotracheal aspirate

Collection Instructions:  Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

Note:  Label container 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.

Throat Swab

Container/Tube:  Dacron® swab supplied

Specimen:  Swab of throat

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

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

4. 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.

5. Place swab in viral transport media.

6. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

Note:  Label container 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.

Throat Washing

Container/Tube:  Screw-capped, sterile container

Specimen:  Throat washing

Collection Instructions:  Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

Note:  Label container 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.

Throat Swab

Container/Tube:  Culture transport swab

Specimen:  Swab of throat

Collection Instructions:  Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

Note:  Label container 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.