Specimen, Collection, Processing, and Testing
All specimens should
collected in a sterile manner. This requires thatthey
put into a sterile container to prevent contamination by normalflora
material should be collected from the site where the suspectedorganism is most likely to be found and
likely to occur.3. Specimens should
obtained before antibiotic therapy has begun.
not possible, the laboratory should be informed
the appropriate time for the collection
specimens. Some viruses, however, are more easily isolatedduring the onset stage
collection should be performed with care
tact to avoidharming the patient, causing
such as sputum
collected by the
clear and detailed instructions should
given.6. A sufficient quantity
the specimen should be obtained to allow
for all diagnostic tests that need to
should be indicated by
physician or laboratory microbiologist.
Specimens should be protected from heat and cold, and promptlydelivered to the laboratory so the results
the analysis will be a validrepresentation
the organisms present at the time
delivery is delayed, some delicate pathogens will die. Anaerobes willdie
exposed to the air.
the normal flora may
thepathogens, which will inhibit or kill them. Delay
deliveryconsiderably decreases the chances
isolating the pathogen.
be handled with even geater care to avoidcontamination
the ward messenger,
nurses, and otherhospital personnel. Such dangerous specimens are usually placed in asealed plastic
for immediate transp0l1 to the laboratory.9. All specimens containers must be
sterilized, and properlystored to avoid contamination
the specimen by microbes and harmfulchemicals from the container.