Page updated 30 April 2007
Laboratory Specimens - Transport
Urgent Specimens
Send to the laboratory without delay:
- Blood cultures, to 37°C incubator. (ARD Bottles to technician if used)
- Cerebro-spinal fluid.
- Aspirates and tissue from normally sterile sites.
- Specimens where delicate bacteria such as Neisseria, Haemophilus are sought
Routine Specimens
- Within 1-2 hours.
- Urines kept at room temperature for more than two hours have been shown to be useless. After two hours, contaminants have increased to significant numbers. This is the single most common reason for the report "Mixed growth of doubtful significance".
OR
- Missed infection due to overgrowth by contaminants.
- If delay is unavoidable, store routine specimens at 4°C (refrigerator).
- Specimens in transport medium should be kept at room temperature.
Health and Safety
- Do not overfill containers
- Throw out contaminated containers
- Transport in plastic bags
- NO NEEDLES OR SYRINGES PLEASE
- Ensure "HIGH RISK SPECIMENS" are labelled as such.
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