Specimen Requirements

Submit only one of the following

Preferred
Specimen Type: Stool
Container/Tube: Sterile screw-capped container with attached spatula
Volume: 10.0 g / 5.0 mL
Minimum Volume: 5.0 g (size of a grape) / 2.0 mL (liquid stool)
Collection Instructions: Collect sample prior to any antimicrobial treatment.

Do not submit more than 2 stool specimens per patient without prior consultation with microbiologist. Do not send stool for bacterial culture when patient has been hospitalized for >72 hours.

Please indicate if the laboratory is needed to look for specific enteric pathogens or rarely isolated enteric pathogens.

Acceptable
Specimen Type: Rectal swab
(Only when stool specimen cannot be collected; e.g. newborns, severly debilitated adults)
Container/Tube:  eSwab, M40 transystem Amies agar transport media (for non-NUH patients)
Volume: 1 swab
Collection Instructions: Pass the tip of a sterile swab approximately 2.5 cm beyond the anal sphincter. Rotate the swab and then withdraw it. Place swab in transport medium.

Please refer to eSwab Training Slides.