Specimen Requirements

Acceptable Specimens:
Hair, mucous membrane, nail, or skin

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Hair
1. Pull out several dead hairs (will pull out easily without pain and may be coated).
2. Place hair in a screw-capped, sterile container.
3. Label container with patient’s full name (first, last, and middle initial), medical record number (if available), date and time of collection, location of patient, and type of specimen.
4. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.
Note:  1. Ointments and other cutaneous preparations may interfere with this prep.
2. Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

Mucous Membrane
1. Scrape mucous membranes of mouth or vagina with a tongue depressor.
2. Place scrapings in a screw-capped, sterile container with saline.
3. Label container with patient’s full name (first, last, and middle initial), medical record number (if available), date and time of collection, location of patient, and type of specimen.
4. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.
Note:  1. Ointments and other cutaneous preparations may interfere with this prep.
2. Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

Nail (Finger or Toe)
1. Do not send clippings, if possible.
2. Scrape flat surface of nail with blade until down to infected part which will generally be crumbly or cheesy.
3. Place scrapings in a screw-capped, sterile container.
4. Label container with patient’s full name (first, last, and middle initial), medical record number (if available), date and time of collection, location of patient, and type of specimen.
5. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.
Note:  1. Ointments and other cutaneous preparations may interfere with this prep.
2. Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

Skin
1. Cleanse area with sterile saline.
2. Scrape dry skin around lesion with a scalpel.
3. Place scrapings in a screw-capped, sterile container.
4. Label container with patient’s full name (first, last, and middle initial), medical record number (if available), date and time of collection, location of patient, and type of specimen.
5. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.
Note:  1. Ointments and other cutaneous preparations may interfere with this prep.
2. Specimen source is required on request form for processing.