Microbiology Specimen Collection & Transport Guide
General / Swabs
Specimens are only acceptable for processing when they are collected and submitted to our laboratories appropriately.
If you have questions regarding the type of container to use for a particular test or specimen, refer to the specimen requirements outlined on the Test Directory.
For assistance or more details regarding the information provided, please contact Client Services.
Specimen Collection & Transport
This container is acceptable for:
- Abscess & Wound Culture with Stain (WCUL)
- AFB Culture & Stain (AFC)
- BK Virus Quantitation, Urine (UBKQT)
- Body Fluid Culture (BFCUL)
- Bronchoscopy Culture (BALCSM)
- Catheter Tip Culture (CTCUL)
- Cystic Fibrosis Respiratory Culture (CFRCUL)
- Cytomegalovirus, Qualitative – Urine (CMVQL)
- Fungal Culture, Non-Dermal (FCUL, FCULSM, ACFSC, FHSNSM)
- Respiratory Culture (RCULST)
- Respiratory Pathogen Molecular Testing – Lower Respiratory (CVFLRS, RPPCR, LEGPCR, PJPCR)
- Tissue Culture (TISCUL)
Use this container for sputum, tissue, fluid, and specimens that do not have an indicated specific transport container.
This swab is acceptable for:
- Abscess & Wound Culture with Stain* (WCUL)
- Anaerobe Culture* (ANACUL)
- Cystic Fibrosis Respiratory Culture (CFRCUL)
- Ear Culture & Stain* (EARCSM)
- Eye Culture & Stain* (EYECSM)
- Group A Strep PCR (GASPCR)
- Group B Strep by PCR, Routine Prenatal Screening (GBPCR)
- MRSA / S. aureus Culture Screen (MRSASC, SANSAL)
- Throat Culture (THRCUL)
- VRE Culture (VRESC)
- Yeast Screen (FUNGSC)
* Fluid or tissue submitted in a sterile container is preferred for eye, ear, fungal, and wound cultures.
Ear and eye specimens will be held for an extended incubation to recover mold.
eSwab is not accepted for AFC Culture, Fungal Culture, or Molecular Microbiology testing.
ESwab™ generates 1 mL of patient sample, providing a uniform sample for culture and reducing the need to collect multiple swabs.
This swab is required for:
- Cytomegalovirus DNA, Qualitative PCR, Non-Plasma (CMVQL)
- Herpes Simplex & Varicella-Zoster Virus, Molecular Detection* (HSVVZV)
- Mycoplasma Ureaplasma Culture on Genital Specimens (MYPLAS)
- Non-Variola Orthopoxvirus (includes Mpox) (OPXPCR)
* Swabs taken for HSVVZV testing must be from an active lesion.
This swab is acceptable for:
- COVID-19, Influenza, RSV – Nasal Swab (CVFLRS)
UTM is shelf-stable for up to one year, and can be stored at ambient temperature; however, once the specimen is inoculated, it must be refrigerated.
This swab maintains virus, chlamydia, mycoplasma, and ureaplasma specimens.
Transport at 2–8°C.
UTM is shelf-stable for up to one year, and can be stored at ambient temperature; however, once the specimen is inoculated, it must be refrigerated.
Review Nasal, Nasopharyngeal, & Oropharyngeal Swab Collection Instructions on how to collect specimens with this swab.
Transport at 2–8°C.
Culture & Sensitivity (C&S) Urine Transport Kit
Sterile Urine Transport Container
Transport at room temperature (ambient).
Specimen Collection Instructions
Transfer ≥ 4 mL of the urine specimen from the cup to the gray tube using the transfer straw by following these instructions:
1. Submerge the tip of the transfer straw into the urine specimen.
2. Push the gray top C&S preservative tube into the transfer straw.
3. Fill to the line on the tube (4 mL); hold the tube in position until the flow stops.
4. Remove the tube from the straw.
5. Shake the tube vigorously to mix the sample.
