Specimen collection
A patients guide to taking samples
Your GP or other healthcare professional may ask for a urine sample to aid diagnosis or to rule out certain health problems. Your GP should provide specific instructions on how to collect the sample and where to deliver it to.
Urine may be used to diagnose
Urinary tract infection
Sexually transmitted disease
Pregnancy
Various metabolic conditions such as diabetes
Collecting your urine sample
You should:
Collect your urine sample in the container provided by your GP
If you cannot hand it in strait away store in fridge in a sealed plastic bag.
What is a mid-stream urine sample ( MSU)?
A mid-stream urine sample means that you don’t collect the first part of the urine that comes out. This reduces the risk of the sample being contaminated from your hands or from the skin around the urethra 9 the tube that caries the urine out of the body).
If not already done, label the container with your name and date of birth.
Wash your hands
Start to urinate but don’t collect the first part of the urine that comes out.
Collect a sample of urine (mid-stream) that comes out in the sterile container provided.
Some types of containers need to be filled to have a minimum volume line.
Screw the lid of the container shut.
Wash your hands again thoroughly.
If you can’t hand your sample in within an hour you should keep it in the fridge at around 4 C in a sealed plastic bag for no longer than 24 hours. If the sample is not refridgerated, and kept at room temperature, bacteria in it may multiply and produce an incorrect result.
Different types of container for collecting urine samples. The red topped version contains a substance that stabilises bacterial growth if there is a delay in transport to the laboratory. The brown container is only used for detection of renal TB.
Stool (faeces) specimen.
Your GP or other healthcare professional may ask you for a faeces sample to aid diagnosis in various conditions affecting the bowel. The faeces may contain harmful bacteria or other substances that may affect the digestive system that can be detected in the laboratory. Your GP should provide you with a plastic sealable container and explain how to collect the sample.
A stool sample can be tested to help diagnose.
Gastroenteritis
Inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn’s disease
Food poisoning.
Bowel parasites
Collecting a stool sample
Label the faeces container with your name and date of birth.
Place something in the toilet to catch the stool such as a clean potty or empty plastic food container. (Note you need to bin this after use).
Make sure the sample does not touch the inside of the toilet.
Use a disposable spoon or spatula to place the faeces inside the container to about one third full, replace the lid a screw securely shut.
Put anything used to collect the sample inside a plastic bag, tie it up and place in the bin.
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm running water.
Try not to collect urine or toilet water during this process. Stool samples should be delivered to the GP practice or laboratory as soon as possible and should not be stored for any significant amount of time.
Sputum collection.
Sputum is the phlegm coughed up from your lungs. It is not spit or mucous from the mouth or back of the throat. You’re GP or other health care professional may ask you to produce a sputum specimen to aid diagnosis of the bacteria that may be affecting your lungs in various respiratory diseases:
Pneumonia
COPD exacerbations
Bronchiectasis.
Collecting a sputum sample.
An early morning sputum (i.e. as soon as you wake up) is best, but if not possible sputum can be collected at other times of the day. You’re GP should provide a special container for this specimen collection.
Rinse mouth out with water (not mouth wash) and remove dentures if present.
Cough hard to bring up sputum from deep in your lungs (this may take a lot of coughing).
From the mouth the sputum should go directly into the container provided then screw the top on securely.
Label the container with your name and date of birth.
Place container in sealed plastic bag.
Deliver to GP or laboratory as soon as possible. If there is a delay, the sample can be kept in the fridge for up to 24 hours.
Note your GP may need to take several other specimens to diagnose your respiratory condition. E.g. throat swab, urine or blood.
Vaginal swab and urine for detection of sexually transmitted disease.
Self-collected vaginal swabs, and urine collection, for chlamydia screening is not routine and would only be requested by the Sexual Health department doctors in particular circumstances.
Instructions for self-collection of these tests are provided on the chlamydia testing request form supplied by sexual health department.
Further information on any aspect of sample collection can be obtained from you GP or Walsall Manor Hospital laboratories at 01922 721172 (ext, 6481 or 7127).
Sample Requirement
Where possible use order comm. to request samples using the printed sticker to label specimen. In addition, please handwrite DATE and TIME of collection on the specimen and the form. Where handwritten forms are used, please provide at least two patient identifying data on the sample label and three patient identifying markers on the form.
When un-dated samples are received, the date of the form will be used as the sample date. Please note that this may result in rejection of samples if the date on the form pre-dates the sample
Condition or specimen type | Clinical information required | Sample requirement | Sample container |
---|---|---|---|
Ear infection | Clinical presentation
Recent antimicrobial therapy |
Ear swab, middle ear effusion | Swab in charcoal transport media. Fluid in white top universal. |
Conjunctivitis | Clinical presentation
Recent antimicrobial therapy |
Eye swab | Swab in charcoal transport media. Swab in viral transport media if virus suspected. If Chlamydia examination required take two samples- 1.take conjunctival scraping, smear directly on to microscope slide and fix with acetone prior to transport.
2. Inoculate into a unisex swab collection kit Chlamydia testing kits available from the laboratory |
Investigation of oral samples | Clinical presentation
Recent antimicrobial therapy |
Mouth swab | Swab in charcoal transport media |
Investigations of nasal samples | Clinical presentation
Recent antimicrobial therapy |
Nose swab, antral washout, sinus aspirate and sinus washout | Swab in charcoal transport media. Fluid in white top universal. |
Whooping cough | Vaccination history
Date of onset Severity Recent antimicrobial therapy |
Pernasal swab, nasopharyngeal aspirate | Blue top Trans-swab placed in viral transport media or a plain universal
Fluid in white top universal Do NOT use the charcoal media supplied. For more information on collection, please click here. NB Culture for Bordetella is being discontinued and replaced by PCR test. |
Throat infections, Epiglottitis | Clinical presentation
Travel history Date of onset N. meningitidis case or contact Diabetic Recent antimicrobial therapy |
Throat swab, posterior pharyngeal swab, nasopharyngeal swab, pharyngeal washings, pus aspirate, oropharyngeal swab | Swab in charcoal transport media. |
Skin, Superficial and non-surgical wound infections | Clinical presentation
Diabetic Animal bite Give specific description of anatomic site. Recent antimicrobial therapy. Travel history |
Skin swab, swab from superficial wound, swab from non-surgical wound | Swab in charcoal transport media. |
Fish tank granuloma | Clinical presentation
Specific anatomic site Recent antimicrobial therapy |
Biopsy, aspirate | Sample in a sterile leak-proof container |
Abscess or deep seated infections | Clinical presentation
Immunosuppressed Specific anatomic site Recent antimicrobial therapy . Recent travel history |
Abscess pus, abscess swab, deep-seated pus swab, post-operative wound swab, wound exudates, tissue, biopsy | sample in sterile leak-proof container
Swab in charcoal transport |
Biliary infection | Clinical presentation
Recent antimicrobial therapy |
Bile | Sample in sterile, leak-proof container |
Cannula-related infections | Clinical presentation
Specific site and type of tip Recent antimicrobial therapy |
Line tips eg CVP or Hickman lines, swabs of cannula insertion sites | Sample in sterile, leak-proof container
Swab in charcoal transport media |
Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) peritonitis | Clinical presentation
immunocompromised Recent antimicrobial therapy |
CAPD fluid | Sample in sterile leak-proof container |
Amnionitis | Clinical presentation
immunocompromised Recent antimicrobial therapy |
Amniotic fluid | Sample in sterile leak-proof container |
Pericarditis | Clinical presentation
immunocompromised Recent antimicrobial therapy |
Pericardial fluid | Sample in sterile leak-proof container |
Peritonitis | Clinical presentation
immunocompromised Recent antimicrobial therapy |
Ascitic fluid, Peritoneal fluid | Sample in sterile leak-proof container |
Pleurisy | Clinical presentation
Recent antimicrobial therapy |
Pleural fluid | Sample in sterile leak proof container |
Septic arthritis | Clinical presentation
immunocompromised Recent antimicrobial therapy |
synovial (joint) fluid | Sample in sterile leak proof container |
Bursitis | Clinical presentation
immunocompromised Recent antimicrobial therapy |
Bursa fluid | Sample in sterile leak-proof container |
Meningitis/encephalitis | Clinical presentation,
Immunocompromised Details of recent travel, |
CSF, Blood culture, EDTA blood for PCR | Sample in sterile leak-proof container |
Sub-arachnoid haemorrhage | Clinical presentation
Recent antimicrobial therapy |
CSF | Sample in 3 sterile leak-proof containers, labelled 1-3 in order of collection |
Vaginal infection (other than STI’s) | Clinical presentation
Recent antimicrobial therapy |
High vaginal swab (HVS), vaginal discharge, vulval swab, labial swab, cervical swab, endocervical swab, ,genital ulcer swab, aspirates from bartholin’s gland, fallopian tube, tuboovarian abscess, pouch of Douglas fluid, products of conception | Swab in charcoal transport media. |
Intrauterine contraceptive devices associated infection | Clinical indications of PID or other inflammatory conditions | IUCD | Sample in a sterile leak-proof container |
Infections (other than STIs) of the Male Genital Tract | Clinical presentation
Recent antimicrobial therapy |
penile swab, urethral swab, semen | Swab in charcoal transport media
Samples in a sterile leak-proof container |
Herpes simplex | Clinical presentation
Date of onset Sample site |
Swab from lesion | Swabs in viral transport media |
Chlamydia/gonorrhoea detection | Clinical presentation
Date of onset Sample site |
Urine (male and female accepted)
Endocervical, urethral swab. Self-taken vaginal swabs (Chlamydia Screening Programme only) |
Urine in Aptima Urine transport tube
Endocervical and urethral swabs in Aptima collection swab (white and purple label Self taken swabs in Aptima collection swab (orange label) |
MRSA screening | Nose. Groin, axilla swab | Swab in charcoal transport media | |
Gastroenteritis | Clinical presentation
Date of onset Travel history Contacts Recent antimicrobial therapy |
Stool sample.
NB C.difficile and norovirus will not be tested on formed stools |
Sterile leak-proof container |
Faecal parasite infections | Date of onset
Travel history Contacts |
Stool sample on 3 consecutive days | Sterile leak-proof container |
Enterobius / threadworm | Symptoms
contacts |
Moistened plain peri-anal swab broken off into a plain universal or sellotape slide taken on waking, before bathing. | Sterile leak-proof container.
Place slide in slide carrier which is available from pathology |
Schistosomiasis | Symptoms
Travel history |
A terminal sample of urine taken between noon and 3pm (preferably after light exercise) to provide the optimum number of ova.
Also send 3x stool samples and 7ml clotted blood for EIA |
Sterile leak-proof container |
Fungal infection – skin, nail and hair | Type of rash
Specific anatomic site |
Skin scrapings,
nail clippings Hair – up to 2 cm hair strand with root attached |
Skin scrapings in folded black paper, inside sterile leak-proof container
Nail and hair in sterile leak-proof container Hair |
Mycobacterium investigation | Clinical presentation
Contacts Travel history |
Sputum, gastric washing, sterile site body fluids (CSF, pleural fluids etc.), urine, skin or tissue biopsies, bone marrow, broncho-alveolar washings, blood, bone. NB if sending a urine sample, 3 whole early morning urines should be sent | Sterile leak proof container
Containers for early morning urine samples are available from pathology Blood should be received in light blue top tube |
Urinary tract infection | Relevant clinical details
Specimen type Recent antimicrobial therapy |
Bag urine, pad urine, catheter urine, prostate massage/secretions, clean catch urine, suprapubic aspirate, cystoscopy urine, ureteric urine, ileal conduit urine, urostomy urine, mid-stream urine, nephrostomy urine | Sterile leak-proof container with/without boric acid |
Osteomyletis | Intra-operative samples of bone, bone biopsies, soft tissue, aspirates | Sterile leak-proof container | |
Prosthetic joint revision | Relevant clinical details
Specimen type Recent antimicrobial therapy |
Tissue
Fluid Swab |
Tissue – Sterile leak-proof container containing glass beads
Fluid – Sterile leak-proof container Swab – Black topped trans-swab |