Specimen Requirements

Specimen must arrive within 24 hours of collection.

1. Use a tongue depressor to depress tongue.
2. Sample posterior pharynx, tonsils, and inflamed areas with culture transport swab. Avoid touching cheek, tongue, uvula, and lips.

3. Label transport tube with patient’s information, date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.
4. Forward specimen promptly.
Note:  1. Maximum storage of specimen is 24 hours refrigerated.

2. If specimen has been stored for more than 24 hours, culture results may be compromised. Increased storage times can compromise culture results. If culture is requested on a specimen that exceeds transport/storage requirements, culture results may be compromised (this will be noted in the report).