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.
- Blood Culture Sample Collection
- COVID-19
- CSF and Operative Specimens Sample Collection
- Faeces Sample Collection
- Flu Swab (PCR)
- Intravascular Line Tip Collection
- MRSA Testing
- Samples for Antimicrobial Analysis
- Semen Analysis
- Serology Testing
- Skin Scrapings
- Sputum Sample Collection
- Swab Collection
- TB/Quantiferon Sample Collection
- Urine Sample Collection
Appropriate swabs/containers/transport media and their use(s)
Test | Container | Description |
General microbiology | 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 viral swab | |
Chlamydia | Women:
| 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 |
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 | Red-topped boric acid container | Fill to line |
Culture for TB (Only undertaken if white cells are seen in a MSU sample) | Boric acid (red top) container (GPs) | 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. |
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: – | 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 red capped COVIDSafe Virus Inactivation medium. (NOTE: blue or green capped viral tubes can be used in exceptional circumstances but must be kept refrigerated between 2-8oC 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) | (i) a yellow capped Roche PCR medium or (ii) a red capped COVIDSafe Virus Inactivation medium. | |
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 Turnaround Time: 24 Hrs | 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. |