Specimen Requirements

For any source other than rectal, stool, or throat, consult a microbiologist at Logan Health Medical Center Laboratory at 406-752-1737 prior to collection.

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Preferred:

Stool

Specimen must arrive within 2 hours of collection.

Container/Tube: Tightly-sealing, leakproof container(s)

Specimen Volume: Walnut-sized portion of fresh, unpreserved liquid or soft stool

Collection Instructions:

1. Collect fresh, unpreserved liquid or soft stool.

2. If specimen is collected in a bedpan or collection “hat”, patient should urinate into another container before collecting stool specimen.

3. Those portions of stool containing blood and mucus are especially significant and should be transferred into container.

4. Label container with patient’s legal name, date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.

5. Refrigerate specimen after collection.

Note: 1. Do not collect specimen from toilet.
2. Specimen in diaper is not acceptable. Stool material should be scraped into a clean, dry container. Pediatric patients with severe diarrhea may use a U-Bag collection system. Place U-Bag over urethra to prevent urine from contaminating specimen.
3. The following specimens will not be tested:
A. >2 hours old
B. Contaminated with water or urine

4. Specimen source is required.

Alternate:

Rectum

Container/Tube: Swab transport tube(s)
Specimen Volume: Entire specimen
Collection Instructions: Obtain specimen using a culture swab as follows:

1. Carefully insert large culture swab approximately 1 inch beyond anal sphincter.

2. Gently rotate swab to sample anal crypts. Feces should be evident on swab.

3. Insert swab into moist sponge in swab container to preserve specimen.

4. Label container with patient’s legal name, date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.

Note: Specimen source is required.

Throat

Container/Tube: Swab transport tube(s)
Specimen Volume: Entire specimen
Collection Instructions: Obtain specimen using a culture swab as follows:

1. Remove cap and swab from tube.

2. Tilt patient’s head back to assist in opening of mouth as wide as possible.

3. Depress tongue with a tongue depressor so swab doesn’t touch tongue.

4. Instruct patient to say “Ahh” (this elevates uvula).

5. If patient has complained of 1 spot being sore, swab that area well.

6. In 1 continuous motion:

A. Swab 1 tonsillar area up then down.

B. Move to back of throat as far down as possible and swab there.

C. Move to other tonsillar area and swab.

D. Swab behind uvula and remove swab.

7. Insert swab into moist sponge in swab container to preserve specimen.

8. Label container with patient’s legal name, date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.

Note: Specimen source is required.