The Clinical Guide to Services is a comprehensive reference guide of testing services, shipping information and submission requirements. Efforts have been made to be concise and current with all information, but as testing procedures and regulations change, some information may not be current. Many of these tests are only available with prior approval from MDH. It is impossible to address all situations in this guide, so please contact us with any questions.

Optimal volume = as much as possible.
Remove surface exudate by wiping with sterile saline or 70% alcohol.  Collect fluid abscess material with syringe. For open lesions/abscesses, aspirate material from under the margin of the lesion/abscess.

- Formalin or other preservatives
- Swab

Optimal volume = 10 mL
Aseptically collect whole blood in sodium polyanetholsulfonate (SPS – yellow top), or heparin (green top) collector tube.

Clotted blood
-EDTA (purple top)
-ACD (yellow top - acid citrate dextrose)
- < 5 mL adults
- < 1 mL child

Optimal volume = 15 mL
Collect aseptically.
For extremely bloody specimens use an SPS (yellow top) or heparin (green top) blood collection tube.

- < 10 mL adult
- < 1 mL pediatric
-Swab
-Synovial fluid < 1ml

Optimal volume = 10 mL
Aseptically collect bone marrow in sodium polyanetholsulfonate (SPS – yellow top) or heparin (green top). Mix contents after collection.

-EDTA (purple top)
-ACD (yellow top - acid citrate dextrose)
- < 1 mL

Bronchoalveolar lavage, bronchial washings, brushings, endotracheal and  transtracheal aspirates

Optimal volume = 5 mL or more
Place bronchial brushing in sterile container with up to 5 mL sterile saline.

- < 3 mL adult
- < 1 mL child

Optimal volume = 10 mL

Optimal volume = < 15 mL in 100 mg sodium carbonate – adjust to neutral pH.
Collect in early morning before patient eats and while they are still in bed. Perform lavage with 25-50 mL of chilled, sterile, distilled water. 1 specimen/day on 3 consecutive days.

-Specimen that has not been neutralized.
-Multiple specimens taken from same day
-Swab

Optimal volume = 5 - 10 mL
Early-morning specimen from deep, productive cough.
Expectorated sputum: instruct patient as to difference between saliva and sputum.  Have patient rinse mouth with water before collecting sputum to minimize contamination with food, mouthwash, oral drugs, etc.
Induced sputum: use sterile hypertonic saline.  Indicate on request if specimen is induced, as these watery specimens resemble saliva.

-24 hour pooled specimens
-Multiple specimens taken from same day that are < 8 hours apart
- < 3 mL

- <1 gram
- Swab

Optimal volume = as much as possible
Collect aseptically during surgery or cutaneous biopsy procedure. Add 2-3 mL of sterile saline for transport

-Formalin or any other preservative
- Swab

Optimal volume = 40 mL
First morning specimen is preferred.

-24-hour pooled
-Multiple specimens from one day
-Any preservative
- < 10 mL adult
- <5 mL child