Specimen Collection Sputum/Throat Cx

Specimen Collection Sputum/Throat Cx

General Guidelines
■ Use standard precautions when obtaining or handling specimen.
■ Cultures should be obtained prior to the administration of antimicrobial therapy.
■ Document all specimen collections in medical record.

Expectorated Specimens
■ Instruct Pt to brush teeth or rinse mouth prior to specimen collection to avoid contamination with normal oral flora.
■ Assist Pt to an upright position and provide over-bed table.
■ Instruct Pt to take 2–3 deep breaths and then cough deeply.
■ Sputum should be expectorated directly into a sterile container.
■ Label specimen container and send to the lab at room temperature.

Throat Culture
■ Contraindicated in Pts with acute epiglottitis.
■ Instruct Pt to tilt the head back and open mouth.
■ Use tongue depressor to prevent contact with the tongue/uvula.
■ Using a sterile culturette, swab both tonsillar pillars and the oropharynx.
■ Place the culturette swab into the culturette tube and squeeze the bottom to release the liquid transport medium.
■ Ensure that the swab is immersed in the liquid transport medium.
■ Label specimen container send to the lab at room temperature.