Container & Turnaround Additional transport requirements and Investigation Samples tested Sample volume time other comments Amies transport Cervical and medium containing endocervical swabs, charcoal for cervical High vaginal swabs Transport to the laboratory on the day of and endocervical 3 days (HVS), Low vaginal collection or store overnight at room temperature swabs, Amies swabs (LVS), Labial or transport medium for vulval swabs all other sites Gastric or deodenal Sterile universal Samples may be referred to Public Health 7-10 days biopsy container England for further investigation 5 - 10 ml in Sterile Faeces 3 days universal container Only available out of All samples are forwarded hours and by to the Infection & Immunity arrangement with the laboratory for confirmation Microbiology medical of results. 5 ml GEL SST (Rust staff. Serum 1 day In hours, urgent HIV Top) testing is performed by the I&I laboratory and must be arranged with them in advance. Sterile universal 5 cm distal tip 3 days container Sterile universal Transport to the laboratory on the day of IUC device 7-10 days container collection Respiratory samples Please request Samples may be (sputum, BAL, BW, TA), 2 mls in Sterile separately. Not referred to the Atypical Sputum samples universal container 7-10 days included in standard Pneumonia Unit, Public (expectorated or (not sputum trap respiratory culture Health England, for induced) container) testing further investigation
Investigation Samples tested Container & Sample volume Turnaround time Additional transport requirements and other comments Cervical and endocervical swabs, High vaginal swabs (HVS), Low vaginal swabs (LVS), Labial or vulval swabs Amies transport medium containing charcoal for cervical and endocervical swabs, Amies transport medium for all other sites 3 days Transport to the laboratory on the day of collection or store overnight at room temperature Gastric or deodenal biopsy Sterile universal container 7-10 days Samples may be referred to Public Health England for further investigation Faeces 5 - 10 ml in Sterile universal container 3 days Serum 5 ml GEL SST (Rust Top) 1 day Only available out of hours and by arrangement with the Microbiology medical staff. In hours, urgent HIV testing is performed by the I&I laboratory and must be arranged with them in advance. All samples are forwarded to the Infection & Immunity laboratory for confirmation of results. 5 cm distal tip Sterile universal container 3 days IUC device Sterile universal container 7-10 days Transport to the laboratory on the day of collection Respiratory samples (sputum, BAL, BW, TA), Sputum samples (expectorated or induced) 2 mls in Sterile universal container (not sputum trap container) 7-10 days Please request separately. Not included in standard respiratory culture testing Samples may be referred to the Atypical Pneumonia Unit, Public Health England, for further investigation