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Bacterial culture - swabs
Short Description : Swabs


Culture
Test performed by: LabPLUS Microbiology


Specimen Collection

Swabs are not the best or most reliable vehicle for collecting material for Microbiology and should be limited to skin and mucus membrane samples.

They should not be used to sample collections of pus. Where possible, the preferred samples are biopsy or aspirates.

Clearly define the site of collection and please give full relevant clinical details.

  • Exclude indigenous flora by cleaning the surface.
  • Once collected, place swab in transport medium.

    For Virology swabs, refer to collection details under Virology.

  • General bacteriology: All sites.

    Anaerobic bacteriology: refer to anaerobic culture

    Genital tract: refer to sexually transmitted infections

    MRSA: refer to MRSA screen

    Multi-resistant organism (MRO): refer to MRO screen

    Newborn Body Swabs

    Tuberculosis pus: refer to Tuberculous specimens


    Turnaround Time:

    Culture reports on positives are issued immediately.

    Negative or interim reports issued after 48 hours.

    Mycology: an interim report is issued on any positive culture. Negative reports are issued after 10 days.


    Contact Information

    For further information, contact the Microbiology Department via Lablink or the Clinical Microbiologist:

    Lablink contact details

    Dr Sally Roberts , Microbiologist: ext 22705 Cellphone 021 674 140
    Dr Sharmini Muttaiyah
    , Microbiologist: ext 22700 Cellphone 021 615 892
    Dr Mary de Almeida , Microbiologist: ext 22700 Cellphone 021 170 9117

    Dr Matthew Blakiston , Microbiologist: contact via Lablink
    Dr Veronica Playle , Microbiologist: contact via Lablink



    Last updated at 07:47:05 03/03/2023