Microbiology

NAIL CULTURE: Look for a nail that looks infected. Wipe the nail with an alcohol swab (preferably gauze & not cotton). Scrape the outermost layers with the blunt edge of a scalpel and then submit deeper scrapings for evaluation; alternatively submit • nail clippings from discoloured or brittle parts • deeper scrapings or debris from the underside of infected nail(s) Place the specimen in a dry sterile container and transport to the lab at room temperature. SKIN SCRAPING CULTURE: Clean with alcohol; Scrape advancing edge (e.g. with blunt edge of a scalpel). Place the specimen in a dry sterile container and transport to the laboratory at room temperature. Document affected site; Note appearance; Duration of lesions. HAIR CULTURE: Cut hair is not an ideal specimen since the focus of infection is normally below or near the scalp surface. Look for hair that looks infected and pluck with forceps or gloves or scrape the scalp with a blunt scalpel or toothbrush and collect the basal portion of the hair. Sample should preferably include the hair roots since it is the root of the hair that is usually infected. Aim to collect at least 10 affected hairs. Place the specimen in a dry sterile container and transport to the laboratory at room temperature. Document affected site.

N/A ; this is a skin prick test therefore no sample is collected. For walk-in clients only (in-vivo test); alternatively technical team goes to the patient

The required sample is NOT the original patient specimen (like blood or tissue), but rather a PURE culture isolate of the fungus that has already been grown from that original specimen. The clinical sample is first cultured on fungal media (e.g., SDA), the fungus is isolated, identified, and then subjected to antifungal susceptibility testing. The IDENTIFIED pure culture isolate is typically submitted in one of these forms: 1. On an agar plate (parafilm sealed culture plate containing the isolated fungus). 2. On an agar slant (organism growing on surface of solid medium in a sealed tube). 3. On a swab (sterile swab inoculated with the pure culture). The original specimen type/ infection site MUST be specified e.g. blood culture isolate, HVS culture isolate, isolate from CSF.

No dietary & drug restrictions apply when testing is done using an immunochemical test (iFOBT/ FIT)

Variable sample types may apply for this test. Specific sample type submitted/ collected must be specified. Genexpert TB PCR offers shorter TAT and may be considered as an alternative test option. Notify central lab of all TB culture requests.

PATIENT PREPARATION Rinse the mouth with water & cough deeply after taking deep breaths to get a good quality expectorated sputum specimen. Collect sputum and not saliva.

10gms, Clean, dry, wide mouthed leak proof container which is labeled. Test components: Microscopic and macroscopic examination.

20ml spot urine. clean catch, midstream urine should be collected if culture is also required. Test components: Microscopic and macroscopic examination. SHIPPING/ TRANSPORTATION REQUIREMENTS Shipping Temperature: Refrigerated ANALYTE STABILITY Room Temperature: 3 DAYS at 20-25°C │ Refrigerated: 7 DAYS at 2-8°C │ Frozen: 3 MONTHS at -20°C

Draw using aseptic, non-touch technique; blood cultures are the first to be collected in the venipuncture order of draw; do not refrigerate; transport immediately (at room temperature) to the lab for immediate incubation; for adults, 2-3 blood culture sets (aerobic & anaerobic bottle set) are recommended; for infants & young children, aerobic bottles suffices.

Draw using aseptic, non-touch technique; blood cultures are the first to be collected in the venipuncture order of draw; do not refrigerate; transport immediately (at room temperature) to the lab for immediate incubation; for adults, 2-3 blood culture sets (aerobic & anaerobic bottle set) are recommended; for infants & young children, aerobic bottles suffices.