Specimen Type/Requirements

Gastric Contents:  Must be processed immediatley after collection. Send to lab promptly.

Respiratory: Bronchial Washings, BAL.  Send 10 mL in sterile container.

Sputum: Submit specimen in sterile container. Three-separate collections each with their own order, one of which is a first morning collection, collected at 8-24-hour intervals,  is the general recommendation for culturing patients with clinical findings compatible with tuberculosis. 24-hour collections are not acceptable.

Tissue: Collect material using sterile technique.  Place in a sterile container with a small amount of sterile saline or on a sterile gauze pad with small amount of sterile saline. 

Sterile Fluid: Pleural, throacentesis, etc.: Send 10 mL of fluid in sterile container. CSF: Send 1 mL minimum.

Urine: Submit specimen in sterile container. Three-separate collections each with their own order, one of which is a first morning collection, collected at 8-24-hour intervals,  is the general recommendation for culturing patients with clinical findings compatible with tuberculosis. 24-hour collections are not acceptable.

For Blood, please refer to BLOD1118 Culture, Acid Fast Bacillus, Blood for specimen requirements. 

Swabs are not acceptable.  Anaerobic gel media is not acceptable.  

Bone Marrow:  Send in a Yellow top SPS Tube or Sterile Container