Advanced Diagnostic Laboratories

Collect

Throat swab: Swab transport or virus transport system.
Nasal swab: Swab transport or virus transport system.
Oral culture: Swab transport or virus transport system.
Nasopharyngeal swab: Swab transport or virus transport system.
Nasopharyngeal suction: Sterile screw-cap cup
Nasal washings: Sterile screw-cap cup
Minimum: one throat swab
Preferred: two throat swabs
Minimum volume: 1mL
Preferred volume: 3mL

Patient Prep

Throat: Specimen should be a swab of the posterior pharynx and tonsilar area, including any visible exudates in these areas.
Nasal: Insert premoistened swab with sterile saline approximately 1-2cm into nares, then rotate the swab against the nasal mucosa                                                                                                                                                                        Avoid antibiotic administration prior to sample collection.  

Storage Transport Temp

Specimens should be transported to the lab at room temperature within 2 hours of collection or Refrigerated.

Stability

2 hours at RT; 3 days at 4 degrees C

Notes

Swabs: Copan white cap with Amies preferred, one swab for gram stain, one swab for culture

Performed

7 days a week

Methodology

Conventional Culture

Turnaround Time

3 days

Department

Microbiology Lab

Synonyms

THRC

Reference Interval

By Report

CPT Code

87081