Specimen Requirements

Acceptable Specimens:
Hair, nails, skin scrapings, fluids, exudates, biopisies 

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Cervical Swab
Swab of vagina or cervix collected as follows:

1. Do not use lubricant on speculum.

2. Remove cervical mucous first before inserting culture transport swab into endocervical canal.
3. Move swab from side-to-side.
4. Place swab in sterile culture transport tube.
5. Label tube with patient’s name (first and last), date of birth or medical record number, date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.
6. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature only.
Note:  1. Ointments and other cutaneous preparations may interfere with this prep.Specimen source is required.

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 name (first and last), date of birth or medical record number, date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.
4. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.
Note:  1. Ointments and other cutaneous preparations may interfere with this prep.Specimen source is required.

Nail Scrapings
1. Do not send clippings.
2. Scrape flat surface of nail with blade until you get down to the infected part which will generally be crumbly or cheesy.
3. Place scrapings in a sterile dish.
4. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date of birth or medical record number, date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.
5. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.
Note:  1. Ointments and other cutaneous preparations may interfere with this prep.Specimen source is required.

Skin Scrapings
1. Scrape dry skin around lesion.
2. Place scrapings in a screw-capped, sterile container.
3. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date of birth or medical record number, date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.
4. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.
Note:  1. Ointments and other cutaneous preparations may interfere with this prep.Specimen source is required.