Specimen Requirements

1. Prepare site:  wash wound margins well with surgical soap followed by 70% alcohol.
2. Obtain specimen using 2 Fisherbrand® transport swabs.
3. Pass swabs into fresh purulent drainage from center of wound, avoiding surrounding skin. It may be necessary either to separate wound margins with thumb and forefinger of 1 hand (wearing a sterile glove) or make a small lance in a closed abscess before extending tip of swab deeply into wound with other hand.
4. Place swabs in Fisherbrand® transport tubes with Stuart’s transport media to ensure specimen preservation.
5. Label tubes 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.
6. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

Note:  1. See “Microbiology” in “Special Instructions.”

2. Specimen source is required on request form for processing.