Respiratory specimens. Also acceptable: Body fluid, CSF, gastric aspirate, tissue, or urine.

Transport refrigerated.

* Collection Instructions *

Specimen Preparation:

• Place each specimen in an individually sealed bag.

Respiratory specimens:

• Transfer (for each collection) 5-10 mL to a sterile container (Min: 1 mL).

Body Fluids or CSF:

• Transfer 5 mL to a sterile container (Min: 1 mL).

Gastric Aspirates:

• Must be neutralized (pH7) with sodium carbonate if transport is delayed for more than four hours.
• Transfer 5-10 mL to a sterile container (Min: 1 mL).

Tissue:

• Transfer to a sterile container and place on gauze moistened with sterile non-bacteriostatic saline to prevent drying (Min: Visible).

Urine:

• Transfer at least 40 mL to a sterile container (Min: 10 mL).

Specimen source required. Patient Preparation: Recommended collection: Three sputum specimens at 8-24 hour intervals (24 hours when possible) and at least one first-morning specimen. An individual order must be submitted for each specimen.

Ambient: 24 hours; Refrigerated: 1 week, Frozen: 1 week

Dry material or material collected and transported on a wooden shaft swab. Acid Fast Stain: Stool, blood, bone marrow, grossly bloody specimens, CSF if less than 5 mL, or urine specimens if less than 40 mL.