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Anaerobic Culture Specimen Considerations

Considerations

  1. The following specimens are generally unacceptable for anaerobic culture: 
  • Bronchoscopic Washings
  • Colostomy Material
  • Environmental Material
  • Feces/Stool
  • Gastric washings
  • leostomy material (intraluminal)
  • Mouth
  • Nose
  • Prostatic Secretions
  • Skin
  • Sputum
  • Throat
  • Urine: Clean Catch/Midstream
  • Urine: Catheterized
  • Vaginal Secretions
  1. Current or recent antimicrobial therapy may adversely effect the recovery of certain pathogenic organisms.
  2. Fluid or pus must be injected into aAnaerobic Transport Vial (A.C.T. Dual).
  3. Small pieces of tissue less than 1cm in size should be embedded into the media of a Anaerobic Transport Vial (A.C.T. Dual).
  4. Pieces of tissue larger than 1 cm may be submitted in a sealed, sterile container.
  5. Specimens for anaerobic cultures must be transported anaerobically.