Microbiology Specimens and Tests Follow the instructions in section 2.2 above for labelling of specimen and form (paper or electronic). Please note: Samples for Blood Culture investigation must be drawn first to avoid contamination. See SI-NOT-GEN1 and SI-NOT-GEN2 for Order of Draw charts on Q-Pulse. Blood cultures, C.S.F. samples and any sample requiring urgent testing whether during routine hours or on-call must be transported to the laboratory without delay. Routine specimens for culture must be stored at 4°C if there is any delay in transport to the laboratory (excludes blood cultures and CSF, keep at room temperature and transport to laboratory without delay). Inoculated agar plates from corneal scrapings, cultures, ocular fluid inoculated into paediatric blood culture bottle and inoculated chocolate agar plates for N. gonorrhoeae culture are processed immediately. Any remaining sample from ocular fluids (vitreous tap, AC tap, aqueous fluid) is then stored at 4°C. Other specimens transferred from RVEEH are stored at 4°C in NMH Microbiology Laboratory upon receipt until such time as they are processed. See also document PP-CS-MIC-64 available in Q-Pulse. Figure : Blood Cultures Turnaround Special Accreditation Referred Container Volume Culture Times Requirements Status Test Interim negative to date Aerobic and 8-10 mls Adult Accredited No anaerobic vials per bottle results at 24 and 48 Specimens hours for adults and 36 should be taken and 48 hrs for paeds. before Full negative results commencement after 5 days. of antimicrobial Neonate vial 1 ml Accredited No ≥ Positive results therapy. Send to available 48-96 hours laboratory from time bottle flagged immediately. positive. Figure : CSF Microbiology Examination Turnaround Special Accreditation Referred CSF Container Times Requirements Status Test Minimum: ≤48hrs. Specimens should be Culture Accredited Maximum: 96 hrs. No taken before Microscopy, Gram 3 X Sterile commencement of Accredited ≤2hrs CSF antimicrobial therapy. GBS, E.Coli and 1 day Accredited Yes: IMSRL Send to laboratory Listeria PCR immediately. Viral studies week Accredited Yes: NVRL ≤1
Microbiology Specimens and Tests Follow the instructions in section 2.2 above for labelling of specimen and form (paper or electronic). Please note: Samples for Blood Culture investigation must be drawn first to avoid contamination. See SI-NOT-GEN1 and SI-NOT-GEN2 for Order of Draw charts on Q-Pulse. Blood cultures, C.S.F. samples and any sample requiring urgent testing whether during routine hours or on-call must be transported to the laboratory without delay. Routine specimens for culture must be stored at 4°C if there is any delay in transport to the laboratory (excludes blood cultures and CSF, keep at room temperature and transport to laboratory without delay). Inoculated agar plates from corneal scrapings, cultures, ocular fluid inoculated into paediatric blood culture bottle and inoculated chocolate agar plates for N. gonorrhoeae culture are processed immediately. Any remaining sample from ocular fluids (vitreous tap, AC tap, aqueous fluid) is then stored at 4°C. Other specimens transferred from RVEEH are stored at 4°C in NMH Microbiology Laboratory upon receipt until such time as they are processed. See also document PP-CS-MIC-64 available in Q-Pulse. Figure : Blood Cultures Culture Container Volume Turnaround Times Special Requirements Accreditation Status Referred Test Adult Aerobic and anaerobic vials 8-10 mls per bottle Interim negative to date results at 24 and 48 hours for adults and 36 and 48 hrs for paeds. Full negative results after 5 days. Positive results available 48-96 hours from time bottle flagged positive. Specimens should be taken before commencement of antimicrobial therapy. Send to laboratory immediately. Accredited No Neonate vial ≥ 1 ml Accredited No Figure : CSF Microbiology Examination CSF Container Turnaround Times Special Requirements Accreditation Status Referred Test Culture 3 X Sterile CSF Minimum: ≤48hrs. Maximum: 96 hrs. Specimens should be taken before commencement of antimicrobial therapy. Send to laboratory immediately. Accredited No Microscopy, Gram ≤2hrs Accredited GBS, E.Coli and Listeria PCR 1 day Accredited Yes: IMSRL Viral studies ≤1 week Accredited Yes: NVRL
NMH%20Pathology%20Primary%20Sample%20Manual%202018.docx