Pus / Tissue / Fluid Samples

In addition to direct agar culture, an enrichment broth is also inoculated, to aid in the isolation of organisms which may be present in low numbers.

Gram stains and cell counts are performed on certain tissue and fluid samples.

Gram stain

• Abdominal
• Abscess
• Aqueous fluid
• Amniotic fluid
• Bone / tissue with bone (non-prosthetic)
• Biospy
• Brain
• Corneal scrapes
• Joint fluid (+ crystals)
• Liver
• Mastoid cavity
• Pus
• Tissue
• Vitreous fluid

Cell count

• Ascites
• CAPD

Additional testing can include culture for Mycobacteria, Fungi, Nocardia and Brucella

Please discuss with the Microbiology medical staff

Sample type

• Abscesses
  
• Animal / human bite
  
• Aqueous / vitreous fluid
  
• Ascitic fluids - see Ascitic Fluid
• Amniotic fluid aspirates
  
• Haematoma
  
• Bile / pancreatic drain
  
• Biopsy - see Biopsies
  
• Bone (if prosthetic device related - see Sterile Sites)
  
• Brain tissue
  
• CAPD fluid - see Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD) Fluid
  
• Cyst fluid (including ovarian)
  
• Ear swabs from mastoid cavity
  
• Fluids
  
• Intrauterine coil device
  
• Joint / synovial / bursa fluid
  
• Lymph node
  
• Peritoneal fluid / swab
  
• Pus
  
• Quinsy
  
• Tissue samples
  
• Vesicle fluid
  
• Wound swabs – postoperative / surgical wounds (inpatient only), for other wound types see Surface Swabs

* Gastric aspirates are not processed (except for TB)

Specimen requirements

Tissue, fluid and pus are preferred to a swab; where possible they should be taken before commencing antimicrobial therapy

Tissues and fluids should be sent in a sterile universal container

Swabs for bacterial culture should be sent in ∑-TRANSWAB® (MWE) (purple top tube)

State anatomical site of lesion and if collected at operation

Minimum volume

Fluid samples - 0.5ml

Frequency of test

Daily

Turnaround time

6 days

What to request on EPR

Pus / deep wound / fluid / abscess / biopsy / scrape / aspirate / valve MCS