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• Sputum

  • never free from organisms
  • for the diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia
  • may be collect through aerosol induction
  • reliable specimen; less than 10 epithelial cells and greater that 25 pus cells per field
  • suspected of TB - 3 specimens within 2-3days
• lower respiratory specimens are among the most difficult to collect because they are contaminated with oropharyngeal flora
• Sputum

  • tracheal aspirate (suction)
  • container must be sterile and screw-top
  • transportation to lab should be less than 2hrs/ RT
• Vaginal Swab - a technique to obtain a sample of vaginal discharge for microscopy and for culture and sensitivity testing

  • detects various infections such as trichomonas vaginalis, candidiasis, and bacterial vaginosis
• Vaginal Discharge

  • swab moistened with stuart's or arnie's medium or JEMBEC transport system
  • remove exudate
  • transportation to lab is less than 2Hr/RT
  • storage time is 24Hrs/RT
  • For the diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis, culture is not recommended
  • Group B Streptococcus in pregnant women, inoculate selective medium such as (Lim broth)
• Nose Swab

  • insert soft end of swab no more that 3/4 of an inch (1.5cm)
  • rotate swab gently pressing against the inside of nostril at least 4 times for 15 second
  • Nasopharynx
  • Bordetella Pertussis
  • transportation to lab is less that 15 mins/RT w/out transport media
  • less than 2Hrs/RT w/ transport media
• Throat Swab

  • patient should tilt their head back and breath deeply
  • tongue is gently depressed with a tongue blade to visualize the tonsillar fossae and posterior pharynx
  • swab is extended between the tonsillar pillars and behind the uvula
  • Pharynx
  • routine culture for group A streptococcus (Streptococcus pyogenes)
  • Transportation to lab less than 2Hrs/RT
• Ear Swab

  • swab should be returned to its plastic sheath(placed into the transport medium)
• Inner ear

  • Sterile and screw cap tube or anaerobic transporter
  • clean ear canal w/ mild soap soln
  • aspirate material behind drum w/ syringe
• outer ear

  • Aerobic swab moistened w/ stuart's or amie's medium
  • wipe away crust with sterile saline
  • rotate swab in outer canal
• Wound Swab

  • wipe w/ sterile saline or alcohol
  • Superficial - swab along outer edge
  • deep - aspirate w/ needle and syringe

  1. irrigate tissue w/ normal saline soln
  2. moisten swab with normal saline soln
  3. swab 1-2cm area of viable tissue for 5mins. w/ enough force to produce exudate
• Superficial

  • aerobic swab moistened w/ stuart's or amie's medium
  • wipe w/ sterile saline or 70% alcohol
  • transportation to lab less than 2Hrs/RT
• Deep

  • Anaerobic transporter
  • wipe w/ sterile saline or 70% alcohol
  • aspirate from wall or excise tissue
  • transportation to lab less than 2Hrs