Turnaround Time Physician will be notified of all positive smears and cultures within the next workday. Negative smears and cultures are reported after 8 weeks.
Special Instructions The following information must be provide to the laboratory for the proper processing of the specimen: specific site of specimen, current antibiotic therapy, age and sex of patient, collection time and date, physician's name and pager number, and clinical diagnosis.
Collection Tubes should be numbered in sequence 1, 2, 3, tube #1 representing the first portion of the sample collected. Contamination with normal flora from skin or other body surfaces must be avoided. The third tube collected during lumbar puncture is most suitable for culture, as skin contaminants from the puncture usually are washed out with fluid collected in the first two tubes.
Storage Instructions Transport specimen to the laboratory immediately. Do not refrigerate.
