Specimen Collection Guide

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pathology.mater.org.au

Specimen Collection Guide

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Specimen Collection Guide

This chart indicates the specimen required for most frequently requested tests. If the desired test is not listed here please contact Mater Pathology on 07 3163 8500.

Important Information

Always label all specimens IMMEDIATELY after collection with the following details:

• Full name

• Date of birth

• Collection time and date

• Location

Blood Collection Tubes— Always mix tubes immediately after collection by gently inverting the tubes 6 to 8 times.

Blood bank EDTA tube (pink top) Note: Collectors signature is required on request form declaration and tube. Do not use pre-printed labels on tube.

• Crossmatch (+ EDTA lavender top)

• Group and hold (+ EDTA lavender top)

• Group and antibody screen EDTA tube (lavender top)

• Full blood count – including

haemoglobin, white cell count, platelet count

• Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)

• Red cell folate

• Hb EPP

• HbA1c

• Thalassaemia screen

• Malaria screen

• Zinc proto porphyrin (ZPP)

• Genetic studies

Fluoride oxalate tube (grey top)

• Lactate studies

• Glucose (if delay in cell separation is unavoidable), glucose tolerance tests and other dynamic function tests which include glucose

Lithium heparin tube (dark green top)

• Metabolic studies – amino acids, etc.

• Cytogenetics - chromosomes

• T&B cell studies*

• Lymphocyte studies/subsets*

Acid citrate dextrose tube (ACD)

• HLA B27 testing

• Tissue typing*

Sodium citrate tube (blue top) Note: Tube must be filled to the top of the fill line

Haematology/coagulation studies:

• Prothrombin time

• Thrombophilia tests

• Factor assays etc. (+ EDTA lavender top)

• INR

• APTT

• D-Dimer

• Fibrinogen

Serum separation tube (SST) (orange top)

After clotting for 20 to 30 minutes, the tube should be centrifuged for 10 minutes and transported within 4 hours of collection.

• E/LFT – including urea, glucose, electrolytes, liver function tests, cholesterol, triglycerides (lipids), CK

• Troponin

• Proteins – EPP, Immunoglobulins, IgG, etc.

• Endocrinology tests – Thyroid function tests, FSH, LH, etc.

• Pregnancy tests

• Autoantibodies

• Microbial, parasitic and viral serology - hepatitis serology, rubella antibodies,

• Tumour markers*etc.

• Iron studies – B12

• Therapeutic drug monitoring Trace tube (navy top)

• Copper

• Zinc

• Selenium

• Aluminium

Plasma separation tube (PST) (Light green top)

• Blood alcohol (not for legal purposes)

*Special collection required. Please contact laboratory.

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Microbiology and Cytology

Blood culture bottles Adult

• Store and transport at room temperature

• Collect 10-20 mL of blood per set, divide evenly into 2 bottles (aerobic then anaerobic)

Paediatric

• Collect 1-3 mL of blood per set, divide evenly into 2 bottles (paediatric then anaerobic)

Faeces container

• Where amoebae are suspected, the specimen should be received by the laboratory within 30 minutes of being passed

• All other specimens should be received by the laboratory within 2 hours of being passed

N. gonorrhoea and chlamydia trachomatis swab

Urethral swab

Endocervical swab

• Use large swab to remove cervical mucous Thin Prep (if required)

• Can also be used for N.

gonorrhoea and Chlamydia Trachomatis testing (PCR swab is preferred)

Sterile70 mL urine container

• Store and transport at 4°C Uses:

• Urine m/c/s

• Chlamydia or Gonococcus PCR

• PCR for CMV, Adenovirus, Trichomonas vaginalis PCR, HSV

& VZV

• TB or malignant cells/cytology

• All other body fluids and secretions

Urine collection bottles (24 hr urine bottle)

• Store and transport at 4°C

• The bottle should be refrigerated between collections

• Certain collections may need preservative

Uses:

• Used for timed urine collections.

Patient instructions are written on bottle.

Pap smear

Cervical, vault and vulval smears

• Use collection kit supplied by the laboratory

• Fix slide immediately on collection

Thin Prep (if required)

• Use ThinPrep brand in conjunction with standard smear kit – Not SurePath

• Can also be used for HPV typing

HPV typing (Digene Kit)

• Either ThinPrep or Digene kit can be used

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pathology.mater.org.au

Microbiology and Cytology

PCR/Viral transport system swabs

• Viral and Respiratory PCR

• CMV

• HSV and VZV

• Enteroviruses

• Routine virology

Flocked swab (dry flexible swab)

• Collect a second swab if other than PCR testing is required (i.e. rapid antigen testing)

Uses:

• PCR and respiratory viruses (i.e. Bordetella Pertussis)

• HSV

• VZV

• CMV

• Enteroviruses

• Syphilis chancre Cerebrospinal fluid containers (CSF—sterile)

• Store and transport immediately at room temperature

• Minimum amounts required:

Bacterial ≥ 1 mL; AFB ≥ 2 mL; Viral PCR ≥ 0.5 mL;

Fungi ≥ 2 mL

Nasopharyngeal aspirate

• Contains sterile screw top lid and cap suction set Uses:

• For m/c/s, respiratory viral testing (PCR and EIA) and Bordetella Pertussis (PCR)

Transystem bacterial transport swab

Uses:

• Bacterial culture from any site

• For screening MRSA, VRE and multi-resistant gram negative bacteria (MRGN)

Fine needle aspirate (FNA kit)

• Contains slides for fixing and medium for needle washings Uses:

• FNA for m/c/s

• FNA for cytology Histology specimen jar

• All standard biopsy collections (except frozen sections) should be placed in formalin

• For frozen section bookings, contact the laboratory on 07 3163

• If additional tests are needed, 8500 please contact pathologist on 07 3163 8500

Biopblade:

• For use in histology collections including: shave biopsy, saucerisation of flat lesions and levelling of pedunculated lesions.

Punch biopsy devices:

• Available with internal plunger or without in several sizes

Fungal scrapings envelope

• Scrapings may be placed in either the scrapings envelope or a clean dry sterile container (yellow top)

• Please do not include scalpel blade with sample

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Order of Draw

Vacutainer method Syringe method

1. Blood culture bottles 1. Blood culture bottles

2. Pale blue top (sodium citrate) 2. Pale blue top (sodium citrate) er (yellow top)

3. Orange top and navy top (tubes without chemical

additive) 3. Pink top/lavender top (EDTA)

4. Green top and light green top (lithium heparin) 4. Green top and light green top (lithium heparin)

5. Pink top/lavender top (EDTA) 5. Orange top and navy top (tubes without chemical additive)

6. Grey top (fluoride oxalate) 6. Grey top (fluoride oxalate)

7. Yellow top (ACD-acid citrate dextrose) 7. Yellow top (ACD-acid citrate dextrose)

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24 hour collection service

Mater Private Emergency Care Centre,Vulture Street South Brisbane Qld 4101 For a complete list of Mater Pathology’s community collection centres please visit pathology.mater.org.au.

pathology.mater.org.au Telephone 07 3163 8500

©

Mater Misericordiae Health Services Brisbane Limited Last updated May 2012

Q U A L I T Y

MHS-800-02979