Specimen Processing Flashcards
When to include culture for Actinomyces?
Presence of sulphur granules
What is Brucella enriched with
Blood, hemin, vitamin K
Recovery of organisms, particularly if small #, are considered significant
Pus, gas, or foul smell
Why are anaerobic cultures not refrigerated
Refrigeration introduces oxygen
BRU with _______ inhibits Gram-NEG facultative anaerobes
neomycin
Suggests increased protein which could be due to PMNs and infection
Cloudy fluid
Anticoagulant suitable for viruses
Heparin
Why would a specimen with the characteristic “bloody swab” be important
Suggests a deeper wound => may need anaerobic culture
This organism is sensitive to SPS in blood cultures
N. meningitidis
4 examples of non-routine specimen
- artificial vein
- heart valve
- corneal transplant
- 5-lumen catheter
Hardy organism that can survive a delay in culture
Enterococcus faecalis
Turn-around-time for STAT on a direct smear?
< 2 hrs
What is a sputum Q score
Ratio of squamous epithelial cells to PMNs
3 scenarios to suspect ANO2
- Seen in smear, failed to grow aerobically
- Thioglycollate broth = G, but plates = NG
- Typical ANO2 microscopic morphology
What is PRAS
Pre-reduced and anaerobically sterilized
Send to BCCDC for further investigation of serotypes that cannot be identified routinely
Bloody stool
Describe prioritization of STAT specimens by ward
OR > PICU > ER
What is BV scoring
Bacterial vaginosis scoring
Why is cooked meat broth better than thioglycollate broth for longer storage of anaerobes
Meat acts as both reducing and detoxifying substance
Purpose of LKV plate
Enhance Bacteroides, inhibit GPC (vanco) and GNB facultative anaerobes (kanamycin)
