Microbiology

Transport Media

Please send microbiology specimens in the appropriate sterile container or transport device.
All specimens must be labeled with patients name, date of birth, time and date of collection.
The label on the specimens must match the information given on the requisition. If you
have any questions please call Client Services at 800-286-9800 (option 2).

129 Patricia M. Genova Dr.

Newington, CT 06111

To learn more, contact us at 800-286-9800 or visit www.clpct.com.

Rev. 6/10

Digene Swab
Digene Swab Specimen Transport Medium

Urine Culture
BD Vacutainer Urine Transport Tube
This grey top culture tube will keep bacterial
colony counts constant during transport to the
lab. It is for urine culture only. Fill to line on the
tube (at least 4 mL). Keep at room temperature
after collection.
Used for:
Culture, Urine

Urinalysis with Reflex to Culture

BD Vacutainer
UA Preservative Tube
BD Vacutainer
Urine Transport Tube
(Both tubes are required)

This test requires the submission

of both a yellow/red top urinalysis
preservative tube and a grey top
culture tube. Fill the yellow/red top
tube and the culture tube to at least
the minimum fill line. Store and
transport both tubes at room
temperature after collection.
Used for:
Urinalysis with Reflex to Culture

Collect pap smear specimen before obtaining specimen

for HPV DNA testing only. Collect DNA specimen prior to
application of acetic acid or iodine if a colposcopy will
be performed.
Remove excess mucus from the cervical os and
surrounding ectocervix using a cotton or Dacron swab.
Discard the swab. Insert the brush 1-1.5 cm into the os
of the cervix until the largest outer bristles of the brush
touch the ectocervix. Rotate the brush 3 full times in a
counter clockwise direction. Do not insert the brush
completely into the cervical canal. Remove brush and
avoid touching the bristles to the outside of the tube.
Insert brush to the bottom of the transport tube and
snap off shaft at score line and cap tube securely.
Transport at room temperature. Do not use cervical
brush with pregnant women.
Used for:
High risk HPV

Chlamydia and Gonorrhoeae

by Nucleic Acid Amplification
APTIMA Urine Specimen Collection Kit

This test requires the submission of a yellow/red top

urinalysis preservative tube. Fill the urinalysis tube
to at least the minimum fill line. Store and transport
the tube at room temperature after collection.

SurePath Pap Test

TM

SurePath Pap Vial

Used for:
High-risk HPV
Chlamydia trachomatis by DNA
GC/Chlamydia by DNA
Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) by DNA
PAP smear

Collect 5 mL whole blood in a tube containing EDTA

anticoagulant. Gently mix tube after collection and
transport at room temperature.

Used for:
Chlamydia trachomatis by DNA
Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) by DNA
GC/Chlamydia by DNA

Ambient
Temperature
Transport
Reagent
Becton, Dickinson and Co.
Sparks, MD 21152
Packaged in Mexico

Culture for Virus, Chlamydia,

Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma

Collect 1 mL of whole blood into each (Mitogen, Nil

and TB Antigen) In-Tube. Immediately after filling,
shake tubes vigorously for 5 seconds. Specimen
must be delivered to the laboratory within 12 hours
of collection. Call CLP dispatch for pick-up. Place
specimen in RED STAT specimen bag.

Culture, Fungus (includes fungal smear)

Bordetella pertussis PCR
Hair, Nails, and Skin for Fungus Culture
Insect or Tick
Worm

Required for:
Rapid Group A Strep EIA, reflex Culture
Rapid Group A Strep Screen

Fecal Occult Blood Test by Immunochemistry

FOBT-Chek

BD Vacutainer
Sodium Heparin Tube
Collect 4 mL whole blood in (2) green top
sodium heparin tubes. Transport refrigerated.
Used for:
CMV Early Antigen Shell Vial Culture
CMV Tube Culture

Collection kits contain large and small flocked

swabs and pink liquid viral transport media.
Place the swab in the tube and break the shaft
at the score line. Transport refrigerated.

BD Vacutainer SPS Tube

Required for:
Culture, Adenovirus Shell Vial
Culture, Chlamydia trachomatis Shell Vial
Culture, Enterovirus Shell Vial
Culture, Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Shell Vial
Culture, Respiratory Virus Shell Vial
Culture, Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) Shell Vial
Culture, Genital Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma
Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV), PCR
Influenza A/B Rapid EIA
Influenza A/B Rapid EIA, reflex to culture
Influenza A/B Rapid EIA, reflex to PCR and Typing

Culture, Legionella
Culture, Mycobacterium (includes acid fast stain)
Culture, Respiratory (includes gram stain)
Culture, Urine
C. difficile Toxin, EIA
H. pylori Stool Antigen, EIA
Legionella Urine Antigen, EIA
Rotovirus Stool Antigen, EIA

Room Temperature Transport

Red Cap Double Culture Swab in Liquid Amies

Used for:
QuantiFERON TB ELISA

BD Universal Viral Transport Medium

for Viruses, Chlamydia, Mycoplasma
and Ureaplasma

Use for:
Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Smear
Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) Smear

Required for:
MRSA - PCR Screen

QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tubes

BD Affirm
VP III

Clay Adams Brand Two Slide Holder with Slide

Unisex swab and urine transport kits are available, depending on collection
site. Use only the swabs provided. For endocervical and vaginal samples,
use large cleaning swab to remove excess mucus (do not submit cleaning
swab). Collect patient specimen with small sampling swab. Place the swab
in the tube and break the shaft at the score line. Do not puncture the foil.
For urine specimens, patient should collect first 20-30 mL of voided urine
and should not have urinated for at least 1 hour prior to collection.
Transfer 2 mL of urine to the urine specimen transport tube. The correct
volume of urine has been added when the fluid level is between black fill
lines on the urine specimen transport tube label. Do not puncture the foil.

Refrigerated Transport

White Cap Swab in Liquid Stuart

Required for:
Vaginitis DNA Probe
Includes:
Gardnerella vaginalis DNA
Trichomonas vaginalis DNA
Candida species DNA

Lift off roof of the vesicle and remove excess fluid with a
sterile swab. Scrape the base of the
lesion thoroughly with a
scalpel blade. Gross
bleeding should be avoided.
Be sure the rough side of
the slide provided is facing
upwards. Label the frosted
end of the slides with the
patients name. Spread
cellular material collected
on the edge of the blade on
all three wells of the slides.
Transport at room temperature.

Sterile Specimen Container

The BBL range of culture swabs are designed for routine bacterial and fungal
cultures. Please specify source on requisition and keep at room temperature
after collection.

Used for:
Blood Parasites (Includes Malaria and Babesia)
Ehrlichia Blood Smear

Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) and

Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) Smear

BD Vacutainer UA Preservative Tube

TM

This test requires the use of the Affirm VPIII

Ambient Temperature Transport System. To
use, tear/remove dropper and break the
ampule. Remove cap from sample collection
tube and dispense dropper contents into tube.
Next, peel/remove swab. Swab the vaginal
wall and posterior fornix. Place the swab in
the tube and break shaft at score line. Close
cap firmly and send to the lab. Transport at
room temperature.

BD Vacutainer EDTA Lavender Top Tube

APTIMA Unisex Swab Specimen Collection Kit for Endocervical,

Vaginal and Male Urethral Swab Specimens

Urinalysis

Used for:
Urinalysis, Screen with Reflex to Microscopic
Urinalysis with Microscopic
Urinalysis without Microscopic

BD Affirm VPIII Ambient

Temperature Transport System

Culture Swabs

EN

800-286-9800 (Option 2) Fax 877-257-7828

T B A N T IG

Used for:
High-risk HPV
Chlamydia trachomatis by DNA
GC/Chlamydia by DNA
Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) by DNA
PAP smear

Tubes used for Microbiology Collection

N IL

ThinPrep Pap Vial

Vaginitis DNA Probe

MITOGEN

Blue Cap Swab in Amies Gel (w/o charcoal)

Collection with sampling bottle either in-office by physician or by

patient with the FOBT-Chek personal pack. No dietary restrictions.
Single sample collection.

Used for:
Culture, Anaerobic
Culture, Fungus (includes fungal smear)
Culture, Genital for Group B Strep
Culture, GC

Required for:
Fecal Occult Blood

Culture, Throat
Culture, Throat Group A Strep
Culture, Vaginal/Cervical (includes gram stain)
Culture, Wound (includes gram stain)

Orange Cap Mini-tip Wire Shaft Swab in Amies Gel

(w/o charcoal)

SPS tubes can be used to perform CMV Early Antigen

Shell Vial Cultures, Anaerobic/Aerobic Body Fluid Cultures,
Fungal, and Mycobacteria Cultures. Transport at room
temperature. Minimum volume required is 3 mL of body fluid.

Used for:
Culture, Ear (includes gram stain)
Culture, Eye (includes gram stain)
Culture, Sinus

Used for:
Culture, Anaerobic
Culture, Body Fluid
Culture, Fungus
Culture, Joint Fluid
Culture, Mycobacteria

Culture, Urethral (includes gram stain)

Bordetella pertussis PCR (not for culture)

Blue Cap Mini-tip Wire Shaft Swab in Amies Gel (w/charcoal)

Pinworm Exam
Pinworm Paddle
The pinworm paddle will capture eggs of Enterobius
vermicularis (pinworm) for subsequent microscopic
examination and identification. The sticky side of the
paddle should be pressed to the perianal folds. Do not
insert paddle into anus. Do not cover paddle with stool.
Place the paddle back into the plastic tube, cap tightly,
and leave at room temperature after collection.
Used for:
Pinworm Exam

Ova and Parasites

Para-Pak Vials (Grey and Pink)

Blood Culture
Blood Culture, Fungal and Mycobacteria
- Bactec Myco/F-Lytic Bottle

Required for:
Bordetella pertussis Culture (not for PCR)

Collect 1-5 mL of whole blood into a Bactec

Myco/F-Lytic bottle. Leave at room temperature
after collection.
Used for:
Culture, Mycobacterium, Blood
Culture, Fungus, Blood

Helicobacter Pylori Urea Breath Test (BreathTek )

TM

40mL

BreathTek Collection Kit

1-5 mL

Inoculum / Inokulum
inaculo / inoculo /

9352992
2010-09-30

ThinPrep Pap Test

Blood Culture, Routine

- Bactec Aerobic and Anaerobic
Blood Culture Bottles
For each culture ordered, collect 8-10 mL of
whole blood into a Bactec Plus + Aerobic/F
bottle followed by 5-7 mL of whole blood into
a Bactec Lytic/10 Anaerobic/F bottle. Leave
at room temperature after collection.
Required for:
Culture, Blood

The patient should fast one hour before collection of baseline breath sample.
Patient must be off antimicrobials, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), or bismuth
preparations for 2 weeks prior to test. Pranactin-Citric Solution contains
phenylalanine, a component of Aspartame sweetener.
Phenylketonurics restrict dietary phenylalanine.

Required for:
H. pylori Breath test (must order UBT
collection when collecting a breath sample
for the H. pylori Breath Test)

Required for:
Ova and Parasites
Giardia Antigen, EIA
Cryptosporidium, Isospora, Cyclospora

Stool Culture

Collect the baseline breath sample using

the blue bag. Collect the post-dose breath
sample using the pink bag 15 minutes after
drinking the Pranactin-Citric solution.
If particulate matter is visible in the
reconstituted Pranactin-Citric solution after
thorough mixing, the solution should not be used.

These pink and grey Para-Pak vials

are used for ova and parasite (O&P)
testing. Place stool into each vial until
the red fill line is reached. Do not over
fill vial. Both vials should be submitted
for the O&P exam. Leave specimens at
room temperature after collection.

Para-Pak C&S Vial

Date:

/
Date:

Baseline

Sample
Baseline

Sample

Used for the collection, transportation, preservation and

examination of stool specimens containing enteric pathogens.
Used for:
Culture, Stool
Culture, Stool R/O Aeromonas
Culture, Stool R/O E. coli 0157
Culture, Stool R/O Vibrio
Culture, Stool R/O Yersinia
E. coli Shiga Toxins, EIA