Sample Collection - Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust

Sample Collection – Microbiology

Patients

If you are a patient and have been asked to collect a specimen of urine or faeces by a health professional, please use the following links for guidance:

Health Professionals

Instructions for Collection of Samples to be analysed in the Microbiology Laboratory. Appropriate sample containers and media required are indicated in each page or at the base of this one.

Appropriate swabs/containers/transport media and their use(s)

Test	Container	Description
General microbiology Swab for routine culture	Black capped transwab	Clear plastic packet containing swab on plastic shaft and plastic tube with black transport medium.
Ear swabs & Male urethral swabs for routine culture	Orange capped transwab	Clear plastic packet containing fine swab on wire shaft and plastic tube with black transport medium.
Culture for pertussis	Pale blue capped, rayon tipped transwab	Clear plastic packet containing fine swab on wire shaft with plastic tube with black transport medium.
Chlamydia	Women: Vaginal swab (self taken or clinician collected) Cervical swab	Cobas PCR media uni swab sample packet; clear plastic sleeve containing 1 swab & a yellow capped PCR media tube.
	Eye swabs: (Use Cobas PCR female swab)	As above
	Men: 10-20ml first voided urine in plain universal container	30ml clear plastic universal container with white cap
CSF, pus , fluids & aspirates	Plain universal container	30ml clear plastic container with white cap NB. For Ascitic fluid & Synovial/joint fluid samples, also send sample in a set of blood culture bottles.
Tissue Samples	Plain universal container	30ml clear plastic container with white cap
Tissue Samples	For large tissue samples use a 60ml sterile container as for stool / sputum samples. NB. For tissue samples taken in theatre, individually wrapped 30ml and 60ml containers are available from the Pathology store. Alternatively, directly inoculate the tissue sample into a cooked meat broth (available from the Microbiology department).
Stools / Sputum	60 ml sterile container	Wide necked clear plastic container with yellow cap
Urines Routine culture	Plain universal container	White capped universal container- fill to line (minimum volume is 1 ml)
Culture for TB (Only undertaken if white cells are seen in a MSU sample)	Boric acid (red top) container (GPs) Plain (white top) NDHT staff	If TB culture is indicated, (white cells identified in MSU) please order 3 x 250ml metal capped containers using the Pathology Supplies Order Form.
Blood cultures Adult	Standard set	One BD Bactec Plus Aerobic/F (grey cap) bottle containing 40ml of clear colourless broth and latex beads. + One BD Bactec Lytic/10 Anaerobic/F bottle (purple cap) containing 40ml of clear yellow broth.
Paediatric	Paediatric bottle	Single BD Bactec Peds Plus/F bottle with a pink cap containing 40ml of clear colourless broth and latex beads.
Blood culture for TB	One BD Bactec bottle	White capped bottle with narrow neck containing 40ml of clear broth. Contact laboratory for issue.
Serology tests and antibiotic assays	Clotted blood sample (Min. Volume 3.5ml)	Vacutainer with yellow cap
PCR & viral loads including: – HIV viral load HIV genotyping Hep B viral load Hep C RNA PCR Hep C genotyping Meningococcal PCR	EDTA blood sample	Vacutainer with purple cap For other PCR tests contact the laboratory.
Covid-19 Swab	A single swab used for throat then nose in either: (i) a yellow capped Roche PCR medium or (ii) a orange capped Bioer preservative medium. (NOTE:* blue or green capped viral tubes can be used in exceptional circumstances but must be kept refrigerated between 2-8^oC if there is a delay in transporting to the laboratory)* For guidance on Covid-19 swab specimen collection, click here.
Respiratory PCR (Flu A / B / RSV)	Blue capped bottle with dry swab (Copan MSwab)	Clear plastic sleeve containing blue capped bottle and swab
HSV 1 and 2 PCR (Anogenital, mouth skin and eye swabs)	Blue capped Copan MSwab	Clear plastic sleeve containing blue capped bottle and flock swab.
Norovirus PCR	60ml sterile container	Wide necked clear plastic container with yellow cap
TB gamma interferon testing	Quantiferon TB-Gold single patient pack	The kit contains four blood collection tubes, a 21G needle, a safety tube holder and an instruction sheet. Contact laboratory for issue.
Skin, nail and hair (for fungal culture)	Dermapak	Small plastic bag containing black cardboard & instructions
Semen samples	60ml non-cytotoxic sterile container	60ml white top, Sterilin non-cytotoxic pot, (available from Pathology Stores as part of the semen analysis specimen collection kit.) Click here for instructions on obtaining a semen sample.