Specimen:

Sterile Specimen

Collection Medium:

Testing
Schedule:

0700-1630, 7 days a week, including holidays.

Comments:

Tissue or aspirates are preferred rather than swabs.  Fluid collections 
should be aspirated through disinfected tissue or skin.  For 
superficial ulcers, collect material from below the surface (after 
surface debridement or use a needle and syringe).  Submit specimens 
using anaerobic transport media: BBL Port-A-Cul anaerobic collection 
jar (907722) for tissue or ACT II tube system for fluid and swab 
specimens (907464). A sterile screw-cap container (907069) may be used 
for tissue if transported to the microbiology lab immediately (add 
drops of sterile saline to keep small pieces of tissue moist).

Anaerobic flora is prevalent on mucosal surfaces of the oral cavity, 
upper respiratory, gastrointestinal, and genital tracts; specimens 
collected from these sites should not ordinarily be cultured for 
anaerobic bacteria.

The following is a list of specimens that are likely to be contaminated 
with anaerobic normal flora and are NOT routinely accepted for 
anaerobic culture.

  -Throat or nasopharyngeal swabs
  -Gingival or other intraoral surface swabs
  -Expectorated sputum
  -Sputum obtained by nasotracheal or endotracheal suction
  -Bronchial washings
  -Voided or catheterized urine
  -Vaginal or cervical swabs
  -Gastric and small bowel contents (except for "blind loop" or
   bacterial overgrowth syndrome)
  -Feces (except for specific etiologic agents such as C. difficile
   and C. botulinum)
  -Rectal swabs
  -Surface swabs from ulcers and wounds (collect material from below
   the surface)
  -Material adjacent to a mucous membrane that has not been adequately
   decontaminated

Questions regarding the proper collection of material for anaerobic 
cultures should be directed to the Microbiology Laboratory at
319-356-2591.

Sample
Processing:

Submit specimen in anaerobic transport media.
Indicate specimen/fluid type on requisition.
Label transport tube with two patient identifiers, date and time of 
collection.
Maintain sterility and forward promptly to lab.
Specimen should be collected and packaged as close to shipping time as 
possible.

Sample
Storage:

Maintain specimen at room temperature.

Transport
Instructions:

Place requisition into outside pocket of bag.
Place specimen into zip-lock type bag, seal bag.
Recommend express mail or equivalent if not on courier service.
Ship at ambient temperature.

CPT Code:

87075

See also:
Bacterial Culture

See Additional Information:
Normal (Indigenous) Flora of Human Body