Physician Office Specimen Requirements

Specimen must be delivered to laboratory within 1 hour of collection.

Acceptable Specimens:

Rectal swab or urine

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Preferred:

Rectal Swab

Container/Tube:  Culture transport tube

Specimen:  Rectal swab

Collection Instructions:  Insert culture swab approximately 2.5 cm past anal sphincter. Carefully rotate and withdraw. 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.

Alternate:

Urine

Container/Tube:  Screw-capped, sterile container

Specimen:  Random urine

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.