Specimen Stability (for laboratory use only)
Collection Container
Sterile screw-capped container
Collection Instructions:
Submit one of the following: Fluid (abdominal, ascites, bile, brain abscess, drain, joint, pericardial, peritoneal, pleural, pus OR synovial)
1. Collect specimen into a sterile screw capped container.
2. Send specimen to the laboratory immediately.
1. Collect specimen into a sterile screw capped container.
2. Send specimen to the laboratory immediately.
Unacceptable Conditions:
Specimens from existing drains are not encouraged as growth
may represent colonisation.
Swab dipped in fluid.
may represent colonisation.
Swab dipped in fluid.
Specimen Stability:
Ambient
4 hours
Refrigerate
Frozen
Reflex Tests:
N.A.
Performance
Turn Around Time:
3 days
Days Test Performed:
Testing Laboratory:
Woodlands Hospital Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Medical Microbiology
Clinical & Interpretative
Description:
Methodology:
Conventional culture with direct Gram stain of specimen
Reference Interval:
No aerobic and anaerobic bacterial growth.
Critical Values:
Requesting clinician/location will be informed of positive joint fluid gram stain result
