PRESERVATION, STORAGE AND TRANSPORT OF SPECIMENS

Question 1

specimen priority levels

tissue

Answer 1

Level 2 (Unpreserved)

Question 2

Usual incubation for most bacteria, AFB

Answer 2

18 - 24 hours at 37 c

Question 3

Temperature for CSF

Answer 3

body temp (37 c)

Question 4

specimen priority levels

pericardial fluid

Answer 4

Level 1 (Critical/Invasive)

Question 5

specimen priority levels

tissue for quantification

Answer 5

Level 3 (Quantitation required)

Question 6

specimen priority levels

Answer 6

1. Critical/Invasive
2. Unpreserved
3. Quantitation required
4. Preserved
5. Batch processing

Question 7

Critical values that should be reported immediately:

Answer 7

• • Blood culture
• • CSF Gram stain culture
• S.pyogenes in surgical wound
• Gr Staining of gas gangrene
• • Blood smear for malaria
• • Cryptococcal Antigen Test
• • AFS
• Detection of select agents (Brucella etc.

Question 8

maximum specimen transport time

Answer 8

2 hours

Question 9

Transport media/Holding media examples:

Answer 9

• Cary Blair
• Stuart’s or Amie’s
• JEMBEC Media
• Gonopak

Question 10

Incubation for Capnophiles

Answer 10

Candle Jar (5-10% carbon dioxide, 15% oxygen)

Question 11

specimen priority levels

feces in preservative

Answer 11

Level 4 (Preserved)

Question 12

specimen priority levels

swabs in holding/transport media

Answer 12

Level 4 (Preserved)

Question 13

Incubation for Aerobic bacteria

Answer 13

21% Oxygen, 0.03% CO2

Question 14

specimen priority levels

Urine

Answer 14

Level 3 (Quantitation required)

Question 15

specimen priority levels

amniotic fluid

Answer 15

Level 1 (Critical/Invasive)

Question 16

specimen priority levels

Sputum

Answer 16

Level 5 (Batch Processing)

Question 17

serum for serology ideal temperature

Answer 17

-20 c (- 70 c long term)

Question 18

Incubation for Anaerobic eg. Fusobacterium, Bacteroids, Clostridium

Answer 18

Anaerobic jars (Gas-pak, Brewer Jar, Glove box method, Biobag system)

Question 19

preservative used for urine sample

Answer 19

boric acid

Question 20

specimen priority levels

sputum

Answer 20

Level 2 (Unpreserved)

Question 21

specimen priority levels

urine in preservative

Answer 21

Level 4 (Preserved)

Question 22

anticoagulant for viral culture or if organism susoected in the blood is Mycobacterium spp.

Answer 22

Heparin

Question 23

Incubation for Microaerophliles eg. Campylobacter jejuni, H. pylori

Answer 23

Reduced oxygen (5-6%)

Question 24

specimen priority levels

Feces

Answer 24

Level 2 (Unpreserved)

Question 25

anticoagulant for blood culture

Answer 25

0.025-0.03% Sodium polyanethol sulfonate

Question 26

specimen priority levels

AFB culture

Answer 26

Level 5 (Batch Processing)

Question 27

SPS may inhibit certain bacterias such as

Answer 27

• Neisseria
• Gardnerella vaginalis
• Streptobacillus moniliformis
• Peptostreptococcus anaerobius

Question 28

specimen priority levels

CSF

Answer 28

Level 1 (Critical/Invasive)

Question 29

Ideal specimen transport time

Answer 29

30 mins

Question 30

Incubation for P. aeruginosa, C. jejuni

Answer 30

42 c

Question 31

Incubation for Enterics

Answer 31

facultative anaerobes

Question 32

Temperature for:
- CSF for bacteria
- abscess
- lesion
- wound
- body fluids
- inner ear
- perserved urine and stool
- nasal specimens
- tissues

Answer 32

room temp (22 c)

Question 33

Incubation for L. monocytogenes, Y. enterocolitica

Answer 33

4 c (cold enrichment method)

Question 34

Temperature for:
- catheter tips
- CSF for viruses
- outer ear swabs
- unpreserved feces and urine
- feces for c.difficile isolation
- sputum
- swabs

Answer 34

refrigirator temp (4 c)

Question 35

specimen priority levels

blood

Answer 35

Level 1 (Critical/Invasive)

Question 36

boric acid can preserve the urine for up to

Answer 36

24 hours at room temp