Chapter 5 1. State four critical parameters that should be monitored in the laboratory from specimen collection to set up and describe the effects each may have on the quality of the laboratory results (e.g., false negatives or positives, inadequate specimen type, incorrect sample). 2. Identify the proper or improper labeling of a specimen, and determine adequacy of a specimen given a patient scenario. 3. Define and differentiate backup broth, nutritive media, and differential and selective media. 4. Describe the oxygenation states (atmospheric conditions) associated with anaerobic, facultative anaerobic, capnophilic, aerobic, and microaerophilic organisms. Provide an example for each. • Cultivation (growth), identification, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing of microorganisms • Direct detection of infecting organisms by microscopy • Direct detection of specific products of infecting organisms using chemical, immunologic, or molecular techniques • Detection of antibodies produced by the patient in response to an infecting organism (serology) This chapter presents an overview of issues involved in infectious disease diagnostic testing. Many of these issues are covered in detail in separate chapters. • Selection of appropriate anatomic site and specimen • Collection instructions including type of swab or transport medium • Transportation instructions including time and temperature • Labeling instructions including patient demographic information (minimum of two patient identifiers) • Special instructions such as patient preparation • Sterile versus nonsterile collection devices Instructions should be written so that specimens collected by the patient (e.g., urine, sputum, or stool) are handled properly. Most urine or stool collection kits contain instructions in several languages, but nothing substitutes for a concise set of verbal instructions. Similarly, when distributing kits for sputum collection, the microbiologist should be able to explain to the patient the difference between spitting in a cup (saliva) and producing good lower respiratory secretions from a deep cough (sputum). General collection information is shown in Table 5-1. An in-depth discussion of each type of specimen is found in Part VII. TABLE 5-1 Collection, Transport, Storage, and Processing of Specimens Commonly Submitted to a Microbiology Laboratory*
Specimen Management
General Concepts for Specimen Collection and Handling
Appropriate Collection Techniques
Specimen
Container
Patient Preparation
Special Instructions
Transportation to Laboratory
Storage before Processing
Primary Plating Media
Direct Examination
Comments
Abscess (also Lesion, Wound, Pustule, Ulcer)
Superficial
Aerobic swab moistened with Stuart’s or Amie’s medium
Wipe area with sterile saline or 70% alcohol
Swab along leading edge of wound
< 2 hrs
24 hrs/RT
BA, CA, Mac, CNA optional
Gram
Add CNA if smear suggests mixed gram- positive and gram-negative flora
Deep
Anaerobic transporter
Wipe area with sterile saline or 70% alcohol
Aspirate material from wall or excise tissue
< 2 hrs
24 hrs/RT
BA, CA, Mac, CNA Anaerobic
BBA, LKV, BBE
Gram
Wash any granules and “emulsify” in saline
Blood or Bone Marrow Aspirate
Blood culture media set (aerobic and anaerobic bottle) or Vacutainer tube with SPS
Disinfect venipuncture site with 70% alcohol and disinfectant such as Betadine
Draw blood at time of febrile episode; draw two sets from right and left arms; do not draw more than three sets in a 24-hr period; draw ≥20 ml/set (adults) or 1-20 ml/set (pediatric) depending on patient’s weight
Within 2 hrs/RT
Must be incubated at 37° C on receipt in laboratory
Blood culture bottles may be used. BA, CA BBA-anaerobic
Direct gram Stain from positive blood culture bottles
Other considerations: brucellosis, tularemia, cell wall–deficient bacteria, leptospirosis, or AFB
Body Fluids
Amniotic, abdominal, ascites (peritoneal), bile, joint (synovial), pericardial, pleural
Sterile, screw-cap tube or anaerobic transporter or direct inoculation into blood culture bottles
Disinfect skin before aspirating specimen
Needle aspiration
< 15 min
Plate as soon as received
Blood culture bottles incubate at 37° C on receipt in laboratory
May use an aerobic and anaerobic blood culture bottle set for body fluids
BA, CA, thio CNA, Mac (Peritoneal)
BBA, BBE, LKV anaerobic
Gram (vaginal fluid is recommended)
May need to concentrate by centrifugation or filtration —stain and culture sediment
Bone
Sterile, screw-cap container
Disinfect skin before surgical procedure
Take sample from affected area for biopsy
Immediately/RT
Plate as soon as received
BA, CA, Mac, thio
Gram
May need to homogenize
Cerebrospinal Fluid
Sterile, screw-cap tube
Disinfect skin before aspirating specimen
Consider rapid testing (e.g., Gram stain; cryptococcal antigen)
< 15 min
< 24 hrs Routine Incubate at 37° C except for viruses, which can be held at 4° C for up to 3 days
BA, CA (Routine)
BA, CA, thio (shunt)
Gram—best sensitivity by cytocentrifugation (may also want to do AO if cytocentrifuge not available)
Add thio for CSF collected from shunt
Ear
Inner
Sterile, screw-cap tube or anaerobic transporter
Clean ear canal with mild soap solution before myringotomy (puncture of the ear drum)
Aspirate material behind drum with syringe if ear drum intact; use swab to collect material from ruptured ear drum
< 2 hrs
24 hrs/RT
BA, CA, Mac (add thio if prior antimicrobial therapy)
BBA-(anaerobic)
Gram
Add anaerobic culture plates for tympanocentesis specimens
Outer
Aerobic swab moistened with Stuart’s or Amie’s medium
Wipe away crust with sterile saline
Firmly rotate swab in outer canal
< 2 hrs/RT
24 hrs/RT
BA, CA, Mac
Gram
Eye
Conjunctiva
Aerobic swab moistened with Stuart’s or Amie’s medium
Sample both eyes; use swab premoistened with sterile saline
< 2 hrs/RT
24 hrs/RT
BA, CA, Mac
Gram, AO, histologic stains (e.g., Giemsa)
Other considerations: Chlamydia trachomatis, viruses, and fungi
Aqueous/vitreous fluid
Sterile, screw cap tube
< 15 min/RT
Set up immediately on receipt
BA, Mac, 7H10, Ana
Gram/AO
Corneal scrapings
Bedside inoculation of BA, CA, SDA, 7H10, thio
Clinician should instill local anesthetic before collection
< 15 min/RT
Must be incubated at 28° C (SDA) or 37° C (everything else) on receipt in laboratory
BA, CA, SDA, 7H10, Ana, thio
Gram/AO
The use of 10-mm frosted ring slides assists with location of specimen due to the size of the specimen
Other considerations: Acanthamoeba spp., herpes simplex virus and other viruses, Chlamydia trachomatis, and fungi
Foreign Bodies
IUD
Sterile, screw-cap container
Disinfect skin before removal
< 15 min/RT
Plate as soon as received
Thio
IV catheters, pins,
Sterile, screw-cap container
Disinfect skin before removal
Do not culture Foley catheters; IV catheters are cultured quantitatively by rolling the segment back and forth across agar with sterile forceps four times; ≥15 colonies are associated with clinical significance
< 15 min/RT
Plate as soon as received if possible store < 2 hrs 4° C
BA, Thio prosthetic valves
GI Tract
Gastric aspirate
Sterile, screw-cap tube
Collect in early AM before patient eats or gets out of bed
Most gastric aspirates are on infants or for AFB
< 15 min/RT
Must be neutralized with sodium bicarbonate within 1 hr of collection
BA, CA, Mac, HE, CNA, EB
Gram/AO
Other considerations: AFB
Gastric biopsy
Sterile, screw-cap tube (normal saline < 2 hrs transport medium recomended)
Rapid urease test or culture for Helicobacter pylori
< 1 hr/RT
24 hrs/4° C
Skirrow’s, BA, BBA
H&E stain optional: Immunostaining
Other considerations: urea breath test
Antigen test (H. pylori )
Rectal swab
Swab placed in enteric transport medium
Insert swab ~ 2.5 cm past anal sphincter; feces should be visible on swab
Within 24 hrs/RT
< 48 hrs/RT or store 4° C
BA, Mac, XLD HE, Campy, EB
Methylene blue for fecal leukocytes
Other considerations: Vibrio, Yersinia enterocolitica, Escherichia coli O157:H7
Stool culture
Clean, leak-proof container; transfer feces to enteric transport medium (Cary-Blair) if transport will exceed 1 hr
Routine culture should include Salmonella, Shigella, and Campylobacter; specify Vibrio, Aeromonas, Plesiomonas, Yersinia, Escherichia coli O157:H7, if needed
Follow-up may include Shiga toxin assay as recommened by CDC
Within 24 hrs/RT
Unpreserved < 1 hr/RT
72 hrs/4° C
BA, Mac, XLD, HE, Campy, EB, optional: Mac-S; Chromogenic agar
Methylene blue for fecal leukocytes
Optional: Shiga toxin testing
See considerations in previous rectal swabs
Do not perform routine stool cultures for patients whose length of stay in the hospital exceeds 3 days and whose admitting diagnosis was not diarrhea; these patients should be tested for Clostridium difficile
O&P
O&P transporters (e.g., 10% formalin and PVA)
Collect three specimens every other day at a minimum for outpatients; hospitalized patients (inpatients) should have a daily specimen collected for 3 days; specimens from inpatients hospitalized more than 3 days should be discouraged
Wait 7-10 days if patient has received antiparasitic compounds, barium, iron, Kaopectate, metronidazole, Milk of Magnesia, Pepto-Bismol, or tetracycline
Within 24 hrs/RT
Indefinitely/RT
Liquid specimen should be examined for the presence of motile organisms
Genital Tract
FEMALE
Bartholin cyst
Anaerobic transporter
Disinfect skin before collection
Aspirate fluid; consider chlamydia and GC culture
< 2 hrs
24 hrs/RT
BA, CA, Mac, TM, Ana
Gram
Cervix
Swab moistened with Stuart’s or Amie’s medium
Remove mucus before collection of specimen
Do not use lubricant on speculum; use viral/chlamydial transport medium, if necessary; swab deeply into endocervical canal
< 2 hrs/RT
24 hrs/RT
BA, CA, Mac, TM
Gram
Cul-de-sac
Anaerobic transporter
Submit aspirate
< 2 hrs/RT
24 hrs/RT
BA, CA, Mac, TM, Ana
Gram
Endometrium
Anaerobic transporter
Surgical biopsy or transcervical aspirate via sheathed catheter
< 2 hrs/RT
24 hrs/RT
BA, CA, Mac, TM, Ana
Gram
Urethra
Swab moistened with Stuart’s or Amie’s medium
Remove exudate from urethral opening
Collect discharge by massaging urethra against pubic symphysis or insert flexible swab 2-4 cm into urethra and rotate swab for 2 seconds; collect at least 1 hr after patient has urinated
< 2 hrs/RT
24 hrs/RT
BA, CA, TM
Gram
Other considerations: Chlamydia, Mycoplasma
Vagina
Swab moistened with Stuart’s or Amie’s medium or JEMBEC transport system
Remove exudate
Swab secretions and mucous membrane of vagina
< 2 hrs/RT
24 hrs/RT
BA, TM
Culture is not recommended for the diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis; inoculate selective medium for group B Streptococcus (LIM broth) if indicated on pregnant women
Gram
Examine Gram stain for bacterial vaginosis, especially white blood cells, clue cells, gram-positive rods indicative of Lactobacillus, and curved, gram-negative rods indicative of Mobiluncus spp.
MALE
Prostate
Swab moistened with Stuart’s or Amie’s medium or sterile, screw-cap tube
Clean glans with soap and water
Collect secretions on swab or in tube
< 2 hrs/RT for swab; immediately if in tube/RT
Swab: 24 hrs/RT; tube: plate secretions immediately
BA, CA, Mac, TM, CNA
Gram
Urethra
Swab moistened with Stuart’s or Amie’s medium or JEMBEC transport system
Insert flexible swab 2-4 cm into urethra and rotate for 2 seconds or collect discharge on JEMBEC transport system
< 2 hrs/RT for swab; within 2 hrs for JEMBEC system
24 hrs/RT for swab; put JEMBEC at 37° C immediately on receipt in laboratory
BA, CA, TM
Gram
Other considerations: Chlamydia, Mycoplasma
Hair, Nails, or Skin Scrapings (for fungal culture)
Clean, screw-top tube
Nails or skin: wipe with 70% alcohol
Hair: collect hairs with intact shaft
Nails: send clippings of affected area
Skin: scrape skin at leading edge of lesion
Within 24 hrs/RT
Indefinitely/RT
SDA, IMAcg, SDAcg
CW
Respiratory Tract
LOWER
BAL, BB, BW
Sterile, screw-top container
Anaerobic culture appropriate only if sheathed (protected) catheter used
< 2 hrs/RT
24 hrs/4° C
BA, CA, Mac, CNA
Gram and other special stains as requested (e.g., Legionella DFA, acid-fast stain)
Other considerations: quantitative culture for BAL, AFB, Legionella, Nocardia, Mycoplasma, Pneumocystis, cytomegalovirus
Sputum, tracheal aspirate (suction)
Sterile, screw-top container
Sputum: have patient brush teeth and then rinse or gargle with water before collection
Sputum: have patient collect from deep cough; specimen should be examined for suitability for culture by Gram stain; induced sputa on pediatric or uncooperative patients may be watery because of saline nebulization
< 2 hrs/RT
24 hrs/4° C
BA, CA, Mac
PC OFPBL-cystic fibrosis
Gram and other special stains as requested (e.g., Legionella DFA, acid-fast stain)
Other considerations: AFB, Nocardia
UPPER
Nasopharynx
Nose
Swab moistened with Stuart’s or Amie’s medium
Insert flexible swab through nose into posterior nasopharynx and rotate for 5 seconds; specimen of choice for Bordetella pertussis
< 2 hrs/RT
24 hrs/RT
BA, CA
BA, chromogenic agar
Other considerations: add special media for Corynebacterium diphtheriae, pertussis, Chlamydia, and Mycoplasma
Pharynx (throat)
Swab moistened with Stuart’s or Amie’s medium
Swab posterior pharynx and tonsils; routine culture for group A Streptococcus (S. pyogenes) only
< 2 hrs/RT
24 hrs/RT
BA or SSA
Other considerations: add special media for C. diphtheriae, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and epiglottis (Haemophilus influenzae)
Tissue
Anaerobic transporter or sterile, screw-cap tube
Disinfect skin
Do not allow specimen to dry out; moisten with sterile, distilled water if not bloody
< 15 min/RT
24 hrs/RT
BA, CA, Mac, CNA, Thio
Anaerobic: BBA, LKV, BBE
Gram
May need to homogenize
Urine
Clean-voided midstream (CVS)
Sterile, screw-cap container
Containers that include a variety of chemical urinalysis preservatives may also be used
Females: clean area with soap and water, then rinse with water; hold labia apart and begin voiding in commode; after several mL have passed, collect midstream
Males: clean glans with soap and water, then rinse with water; retract foreskin; after several mL have passed, collect midstream
Preserved within 24 hrs/RT unpreserved < 2 hrs/RT
24 hrs/4° C
BA, Mac
Optional: Chromogenic agar
Check for pyuria, Gram stain not recommended
Plate quantitatively at 1 : 1000; consider plating quantitatively at 1 : 100 if patient is female of childbearing age with white blood cells and possible acute urethral syndrome
Straight catheter (in and out)
Sterile, screw-cap container
Clean urethral area (soap and water) and rinse (water)
Insert catheter into bladder; allow first 15 mL to pass; then collect remainder
< 2 hrs/RT
preserved < 24 hrs/RT
24 hrs/4° C
BA, Mac
Gram or check for pyuria
Plate quantitatively at 1 : 100 and 1 : 1000
Indwelling catheter (Foley)
Sterile, screw-cap container
Disinfect catheter collection port
Aspirate 5-10 mL of urine with needle and syringe
< 2 hrs/4° C (preserved < 24 hrs/RT)
24 hrs/4° C
BA, Mac
Gram or check for pyuria
Plate quantitatively at 1 : 1000
Suprapubic aspirate
Sterile, screw-cap container or anaerobic transporter
Disinfect skin
Needle aspiration above the symphysis pubis through the abdominal wall into the full bladder
Immediately/RT
Plate as soon as received
BA, Mac, Ana, Thio
Gram or check for pyuria
Plate quantitatively at 1 : 100 and 1 : 1000 Stay updated, free articles. Join our Telegram channel
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Specimen Management
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