Specimen Requirements

Container: Sterile Container, syringe or Eswab (container "a" - click link under "Resources" to see picture)
Specimen Types:  Abscess, Ascites fluid; BAL; Bronchial biopsy; Bronchial washing; CSF; Fine needle aspiration specimen; Liver; Lung; Lung aspirate; Lymph node; Pericardial fluid; Pleural fluid; Skin; Sputum; Stool; Synovial Fluid; Tissue; Tracheal aspirate; Urine: One specimen per day (>15 ml entire single 1st AM specimen preferred).  Pooling over 24 hours is NOT recommended.  If other source, must indicate.

For initial diagnosis of TB:
Collect a series of three sputum specimens, 8-24 hours apart, at least one of which is an early morning specimen. Optimally, specimens should be collected before drug therapy is started, as even a few days of treatment may inhibit growth and prevent isolation of M. tuberculosis complex.