BODY FLUID COLLECTION & TRANSPORT FOR MICROBIOLOGY SPECIMENS

LAB NURSING MANUAL

BODY FLUID COLLECTION & TRANSPORT FOR MICROBIOLOGY SPECIMENS If possible collect at least 1 mL of fluid in a sterile tube. If Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) is suspected, must indicate when ordered.

Contact Microbiology Division at 296-5539 for prewarmed chocolate agar plate; inoculate directly onto chocolate agar plate.

The plate should be maintained at or near body temperature. Bring specimens/plates immediately (within one hour) to Laboratory and hand personally to Laboratory personnel.

Body Fluids in transport > 24 hours will be rejected for aerobic culture.

Body Fluids not in special anaerobic media and in transport > 2 hours will be rejected for anaerobic culture.

Actual body fluid is preferred. Specify source/site of specimen.

All body fluid specimens should be accompanied by a copy of the physicians orders.

N: 32, 8/12/03,8/11/06; Rev.07/20/11

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PHB Lab 10