Additional Specimen Collection Information

Collection Instructions:

1. Instruct patient to lie or sit with head tilted back, then open
   mouth, stick out tongue and breathe deeply through mouth during
   procedure.
2. Direct maximum lighting toward the back of the throat.
3. Using a tongue blade, depress tongue and vigorously swab the
   tonsillar and posterior pharynx areas that are inflamed, purulent
   or ulcerated using a sterile rayon swab.
4. Repeat the procedure with a second sterile rayon swab if a 24
   hr culture may also be requested.
5. Remove swabs without touching any other parts of the mouth and
   return swab to the paper wrapper.
6. Label the paper wrapper with patient name and two
   identifiers (patient ID number, DOB, etc.) [including source, date
   and time of collection].
7. Transport the specimen to the laboratory immediately.
8. The swabs may remain dry and at room temperature for up to 24
   hours prior to testing or culture set up. The swabs may be stored
   for up to 72 hours before tesing, refrigerated at 2-8 C.