1. Specimen Collection Containers/Swabs a program for nurses
Which one to use for
Urine?
Stool?
Bacteriology Cultures?
Virology Cultures?
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2. Directions
Carefully read through this program, paying close attention to the pictures of the specimen containers on each slide.
When done, proceed to the quiz, by clicking on the next button at the bottom of the screen.
If you are connected to a color printer, print a copy to use as a reference.
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3. Purpose
This program is designed to provide the nurse with information about, and descriptions of, the correct containers to use when collecting urine or stool specimens as well as bacteriology and virology cultures.
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4. Urine Containers
Which one to use?
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5. For U/A Chem-(Urinalysis)
This U/A straw transfer kit has a red/yellow marble top tube and straw type adapter.
Use this tube for U/A Chem (Urinalysis) testing only, as it contains a urine preservative.
It cannot be used for any other test.
This tube comes in a kit with a straw type adapter that allows you to draw the urine up from a container such as a urine cup.
NOTE: This kit is NOT to be used for Urine Cultures. The urine is not sterile.
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6. BE CAREFUL!!—the outside packaging of these 2 kits
(U/A Chem (Urinalysis) and Urine Culture & Sensitivity)
are very similar….and it is easy to pick the wrong one!!
BE CAREFULl—the outside packaging of these 2 kits
(U/A Chem and Urine Culture & Sensitivity)
are very similar….and it is easy to pick the wrong one!!
Be very careful-the outside packaging of these 2 kits (U/A Chem and Urine Culture & Sensitivity) are very similar…and it is easy to pick the wrong one.
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7. BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN SELECTING A URINE KIT!
For
Voided
U/A Chem
(Urinalysis)
For
Urine C/S
from
Catheter
BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN SELECTING A URINE KIT!
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8. For Urine Culture & Sensitivity (C&S)
There are different types of Urine Culture kits:
Clean Catch Kit
It comes with a small gray top tube, a cup, and 2 cleansing towelettes for patient cleansing.
Use this kit if you are having your patient collect a mid-stream sample while urinating into the sterile cup. Transfer the urine to the gray top vacutainer tube using the port on the top of the urine cup cap.
If less than 3mL of urine is collected, keep the urine in the large screw cap container and refrigerate. The gray culture tube cannot be used if less than 3mLs of urine are collected.
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9. Urine Culture & Sensitivity continued….
2. Transfer Straw Kit
It comes with a small gray top tube and a straw type adapter. Use the tube from this kit if you are collecting from an indwelling urinary catheter (Foley).
To get the urine into the tube you must use a vacutainer holder & adapter* in order to draw the sterile urine into the tube from the port on the catheter tubing.
* kept with blood drawing supplies
The straw type adapter that comes with the kit can be used with any type of STERILE cup or container.
Remember to use vacutainer holder to transfer urine from foley to this tube.
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10. Urine Culture & Sensitivity (C&S)
continued….
3. Non-Indwelling Urinary Catheter ‘Straight Cath’ Collection Kit
This is a kit that is specifically used for urine collection from a non- indwelling urinary catheter. There is a collection tube (pictured below) that comes with the kit that is sterile and can be used for Urine Culture and Sensitivity.
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11. Urine Culture & Sensitivity (C&S) continued….
Urine Cultures can only be taken from sterile environments or from cups that are sterile.
If you open a kit, but for some reason do not use all of the parts - discard the unused parts in the garbage, so no one inappropriately uses the left over pieces.
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12. Collecting Urine for a GC/Chlamydia Amplified Antigen detection (Genprobe)
Used for the detection of GC/Chlamydia Antigen from urine specimens.
Not to be confused with the swab kits used for the amplified antigen detection from genital specimens.
Kit includes a plastic pipette and specimen container
Use the plastic pipette to transfer urine from a collection container into the tube provided in the kit and fill between the black lines only.
Make sure to follow the instructions on the kit for proper collection
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13. Do not use a serum (blood) gray top tube for urine specimens
Serum gray top tubes are 6.0mL and have a WHITE label. They are for BLOOD specimens only
Urine culture tubes are 4.0mL and have a YELLOW label. They are for URINE specimens only
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14. For All Other Urine Tests (not Urine C&S, or U/A Chem (Urinalysis))
Used for all other Urine tests:
Lytes
Osmolarities
Protein
Creatinine
Urea Nitrogen
Legionella Antigen
HCG (Pregnancy)
Toxicologies
Emergency
Stat
Routine
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15. Stool Collection
Stool (solid and liquid) should be collected and placed in a screw cap type container and screwed shut tightly.
These collection cups are used for any type of bacterial culturing and for viral testing of Rotavirus and/or Adenovirus Antigen.
Either of these cups is acceptable for use !
NEVER place stool of any kind in a denture cup and send to the lab.
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16. Culture Swabs
Which One to Use?
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17. Bacterial or Viral??
The next few slides will cover the various types of culture swabs, media and containers for bacterial and viral culturing.
There are many different types of cultures/swabs and it can be confusing. When considering what swab/culture to use for viral testing it may be easier to consider what virus is being tested for and how (PCR* or NON-PCR) as many viruses can be cultured using the same media.
A chart of the various types of Specimen Collection containers/swabs for Virology testing is available and has been included in this presentation.
*Polymerase Chain Reaction-isolates DNA for certain viruses
As always, if you are unsure of what to use, you can always call the lab and ask.
Microbiology –
Virology –
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18. Red Top Culture Swab – Bacterial Testing
Used for most types of culturing
(except GC/Chlamydia)
These are most commonly used for bacterial culturing such as wounds, genitals, throats and nares.
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19. Green Top Culture Swab – Bacterial Testing
These mini-tip culturettes are used for eye, and urethral cultures or when a small area is being cultured for bacteria
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20. Use for GC/Chlamydia (Genital Specimens)
GenProbe Culture Swab Kit for Amplified Antigen Detection of GC/Chlamydia
Use for GC/Chlamydia (Genital Specimens)
Kit contains swabs for cleansing area to be cultured (Red, Black & White package) and Swabs for the collection of the specimen (Green & White package)
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21. This is an example of the Virology Chart that can be referenced to determine what culture swab you should use. If your department does not have one of these, you can call the Virology Lab and request one.
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22. Green Top Culture Swab Used for Non-Culture Viral PCR* Testing Only
*Polymerase Chain Reaction-isolates DNA from certain viruses
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23. M4/UTM Media Culture Swab
Use for Viral Cultures, Respiratory Screen, RSV,
Influenza A&B and IFA
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24. Spinal Fluid (CSF) in the clear tube
Viral Culturing
The containers to the left are used for culturing of the following viruses:
Chlamydia (VIRAL)
Herpes Simplex – (HSV)
Varicella Zoster
Viral Misc. Culture
Respiratory Virus
Enterovirus (CSF)
Respiratory Screen (influenza A&B, Parainfluenza 1/2/3, Adenovirus, RSV Ag IFA, and Human Meta Pneumovirus (hMPV))
Influenza A&B Ag IFA (influenza A&B Ag)
Adenovirus Ag IFA
Paraflu 1/2/3 Ag IFA
RSV Ag IFA
UTM media (Pink Fluid)
Spinal Fluid (CSF) in the clear tube
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25. Viral Culturing (cont)
The containers to the left are used for culturing of the following virus:
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) – NON PCR
Urine would be placed in the blue cup
Blood (serum) in the Green Top Tube
Bronchial Wash, throat swab in the Pink UTM Media
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26. Non Culture Viral PCR Testing
The containers to the left are used for collection for the following test:
Bordetella pertussis DNA PCR
The Green Swab would be used for Nasopharyngeal culturing
Nasopharyngeal suction secretions can be poured into the Pink UTM Media
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27. Non Culture Viral PCR Testing (cont)
The containers to the left are used for collection for the following tests:
Enterovirus RNA PCR
Nasopharyngeal secretions using the culturette placed in Pink UTM media or using the Green Culture Swab
Spinal Fluid (CSF) – placed in clear plastic tube
Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) DNA PCR
Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) PCR
Direct swab from a lesion, placed in Pink UTM media or using the Green Culture Swab
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28. Non Culture Viral PCR Testing (cont)
The containers to the left are used for collection for the following tests:
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA PCR
Whole Blood in either tube to the left
Yellow top MUST be ACD not an SPS or SST
Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) DNA PCR
CSF in Clear plastic tube (not pictured)
Purple Top EDTA Tube
Yellow ACD Tube
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