Advanced Diagnostic Laboratories

Collect

Swab: Using a sterile swab, collect the sample deep into the lesion at its
advancing edge. Two swabs prefered, one for gram stain and one for culture.
Aspirate: Aspirate the wound using a needle and syringe.
The syringe may be capped or the specimen may be transferred to a sterile
transport container.
Drainage: Aspirate drainage fluid aseptically from the drainage collection tubing.

Patient Prep

Rinse open wounds with sterile saline.
Clean closed wounds with 2% chlorhexidine or 70% alcohol followed by
iodine solution. The iodine solution should be removed before collecting
the sample.
Disinfect any collection tubing before collecting drainage samples.

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; 24 hours 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

WSUPR

Reference Interval

By Report

CPT Code

87205, 87070