Swabs are unacceptable for anaerobic culture, fungus culture and mycobacteria cultures as swabs are a sub-optimal form of specimen collection which may yield inaccurate or false negative results.
Single swab specimens submitted for multiple requests are unacceptable; for example, requests for "Culture Routine, Candida Screen, and MRSA/Staph Screen" shall have individual swab specimens submitted for each request.
Culture plates that are overgrown or dried out.
Specimens that are obviously contaminated, as evidenced by the presence of foreign materials, such as barium, colored dyes, or oily chemicals.
Submission in an improper, nonsterile, or obviously contaminated container in which portions of the specimen have leaked out. Any leaking container having a biohazard label should be handled with extreme care.
Never perform anaerobic cultures on specimens from sites that may be contaminated with mucosal flora or feces. Anaerobes normally inhabit the skin and mucous membranes as part of the normal indigenous flora, therefore the following sites are virtually always unacceptable for anaerobic culture because the results cannot be interpreted.
Specimens from the following sites are unacceptable for anaerobic culture: nose, nasopharynx, mouth, tongue, gingival, teeth, throat, sputum, bronchoscopy specimens, gastric washings, gastrointestinal contents, small bowel contents, stool, ileostomy or colostomy stomata, prostatic secretions collected transurethrally, vaginal or cervical swabs, urogenital swabs, urines (except supra-pubic aspirates), mucosal linings, skin, superficial wounds, decubitus ulcers, fistulae, G-tube site or environmental cultures.
Small and large bowel tissue/biopsies are not appropriate for culture. Consultation with a pathologist is recommended.
Any specimen received in formalin.
Place tissue or biopsy (minimum: 1 cubic cm (0.06 cubic inch) or needle biopsy)in Remel A.C.T.1- insert tissue deep into the reduced solidified holding medium . Quickly replace and tighten cap.
Place fluid aspirates in Remel A.C.T.1 vacuum sealed tube [prefer 2ml (minimum 0.5 mL) with a maximum of 5mL per vial]. Disinfect rubber stopper with appropriate disinfectant, such as alcohol. Expel air from syringe and needle. Pierce needle thru stopper and inject fluid slowly on TOP of the “surface” of the agar . Please do NOT inject fluid "into" the medium.
Label with patient name, date of birth, date of collection and specimen type.
Transport room temperature within 72 hours.
Limited to Methodist Hospital inpatient specimens ONLY: If IMMEDIATE submission of body fluid or tissue can be achieved, a body fluid may be submitted in a syringe or a tissue may be submitted on sterile gauze moistened with sterile saline in a leak proof container. DO NOT SEND NEEDLE ATTACHED TO SYRINGE.
Anaerobic cultures are only performed on appropriate specimens. Antibiotic sensitivities performed on all suitable aerobic pathogens.
Contact Client Services 402-354-4541 or 888-432-8980 for Remel A.C.T.1 specimen transport tube medium.
Media should be stored at room temperature. Do not use medium if evidence of contamination, drying, cracking or if a pink or blue band is apparent at the top of the medium deeper than 3mm (0.12 inches) (indicative of excessive oxidation).
Organisms in small numbers may not survive longer than 24 hours. Viability of Neisseria gonorrhoeae decreases rapidly at temperatures below 35ºC and may not survive more than 8 hours even in high concentrations.
| Collection |
Swabs are unacceptable for anaerobic culture, fungus culture and mycobacteria cultures as swabs are a sub-optimal form of specimen collection which may yield inaccurate or false negative results.
Single swab specimens submitted for multiple requests are unacceptable; for example, requests for "Culture Routine, Candida Screen, and MRSA/Staph Screen" shall have individual swab specimens submitted for each request.
Culture plates that are overgrown or dried out.
Specimens that are obviously contaminated, as evidenced by the presence of foreign materials, such as barium, colored dyes, or oily chemicals.
Submission in an improper, nonsterile, or obviously contaminated container in which portions of the specimen have leaked out. Any leaking container having a biohazard label should be handled with extreme care.
Never perform anaerobic cultures on specimens from sites that may be contaminated with mucosal flora or feces. Anaerobes normally inhabit the skin and mucous membranes as part of the normal indigenous flora, therefore the following sites are virtually always unacceptable for anaerobic culture because the results cannot be interpreted.
Specimens from the following sites are unacceptable for anaerobic culture: nose, nasopharynx, mouth, tongue, gingival, teeth, throat, sputum, bronchoscopy specimens, gastric washings, gastrointestinal contents, small bowel contents, stool, ileostomy or colostomy stomata, prostatic secretions collected transurethrally, vaginal or cervical swabs, urogenital swabs, urines (except supra-pubic aspirates), mucosal linings, skin, superficial wounds, decubitus ulcers, fistulae, G-tube site or environmental cultures.
Small and large bowel tissue/biopsies are not appropriate for culture. Consultation with a pathologist is recommended.
Any specimen received in formalin.
Place tissue or biopsy (minimum: 1 cubic cm (0.06 cubic inch) or needle biopsy)in Remel A.C.T.1- insert tissue deep into the reduced solidified holding medium . Quickly replace and tighten cap.
Place fluid aspirates in Remel A.C.T.1 vacuum sealed tube [prefer 2ml (minimum 0.5 mL) with a maximum of 5mL per vial]. Disinfect rubber stopper with appropriate disinfectant, such as alcohol. Expel air from syringe and needle. Pierce needle thru stopper and inject fluid slowly on TOP of the “surface” of the agar . Please do NOT inject fluid "into" the medium.
Label with patient name, date of birth, date of collection and specimen type.
Transport room temperature within 72 hours.
Limited to Methodist Hospital inpatient specimens ONLY: If IMMEDIATE submission of body fluid or tissue can be achieved, a body fluid may be submitted in a syringe or a tissue may be submitted on sterile gauze moistened with sterile saline in a leak proof container. DO NOT SEND NEEDLE ATTACHED TO SYRINGE.
Anaerobic cultures are only performed on appropriate specimens. Antibiotic sensitivities performed on all suitable aerobic pathogens.
Contact Client Services 402-354-4541 or 888-432-8980 for Remel A.C.T.1 specimen transport tube medium.
Media should be stored at room temperature. Do not use medium if evidence of contamination, drying, cracking or if a pink or blue band is apparent at the top of the medium deeper than 3mm (0.12 inches) (indicative of excessive oxidation).
Organisms in small numbers may not survive longer than 24 hours. Viability of Neisseria gonorrhoeae decreases rapidly at temperatures below 35ºC and may not survive more than 8 hours even in high concentrations.
| Result Interpretation |
| Administrative |
| Includes |
