Container & Turnaround Additional transport requirements and Investigation Samples tested Sample volume time other comments Pre-inoculated culture Genital swabs (urethral, • Samples may be media for the cervical, vulvo-vaginal) referred to the Sexually microorganisms Extra-genital swabs • Transport to the Transmitted Bacteria above are inoculated (rectal and throat) laboratory on the Reference Laboratory, 3 days Sup-prepuce swabs are at sexual health • occasionally submitted for day of collection. Public Health England, clinics and incubated candidiasis/balanitis in for further at 35-37°C at 5 % men investigation. CO2 Transport to the 2 mls in Sterile laboratory on the day Expectorated or induced universal container 3 days of collection or store sputum samples (not sputum trap overnight at room container) temperature Milk bank samples, Cell Sterile universal (Up to) 14 days culture medium container Respiratory samples (sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage, bronchial washing, Sterile universal tracheal aspirate)• Tissue samples and container. Three biopsies including lymph consecutive EMU Samples may be referred to the Mycobacteria samples are required node• Aspirates 6-8 weeks Reference Unit, Public Health England, for further including fine needle for culture. Minimum investigation. aspirate and gastric volume for each Fluids sample is approx. 100 washings• (pleural, ascetic, mL. pericardial, etc.)• Pus Early morning samples• urine (EMU) samples
Investigation Samples tested Container & Sample volume Turnaround time Additional transport requirements and other comments • Genital swabs (urethral, cervical, vulvo-vaginal) • Extra-genital swabs (rectal and throat) • Sup-prepuce swabs are occasionally submitted for candidiasis/balanitis in men Pre-inoculated culture media for the microorganisms above are inoculated at sexual health clinics and incubated at 35-37°C at 5 % CO2 3 days Transport to the laboratory on the day of collection. Samples may be referred to the Sexually Transmitted Bacteria Reference Laboratory, Public Health England, for further investigation. Expectorated or induced sputum samples 2 mls in Sterile universal container (not sputum trap container) 3 days Transport to the laboratory on the day of collection or store overnight at room temperature Milk bank samples, Cell culture medium Sterile universal container (Up to) 14 days Respiratory samples (sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage, bronchial washing, tracheal aspirate)• Tissue samples and biopsies including lymph node• Aspirates including fine needle aspirate and gastric washings• Fluids (pleural, ascetic, pericardial, etc.)• Pus samples• Early morning urine (EMU) samples Sterile universal container. Three consecutive EMU samples are required for culture. Minimum volume for each sample is approx. 100 mL. 6-8 weeks Samples may be referred to the Mycobacteria Reference Unit, Public Health England, for further investigation.