Aerobic Bacteria Isolation from Clinical Specimen

• Blood or blood culture bottles
• Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
• Tissues
• Lymph nodes
• Autopsy specimens
• Sputum (for Legionella only)

CSF specimens must be:

• collected in sterile containers,
• maintained at room temperature, and 
• received by Laboratory within 24 hours of collection. 
   

Lymph node or lymph node aspirates must be:

• collected in sterile containers
• stored cold at 2°C to 8°C, and 
• shipped to the Laboratory overnight on cold packs.
   

Bronchial washes or lavages must be:

• collected in sterile containers, and 
• shipped to the Laboratory overnight on cold packs . 
   

Autopsy specimens must be:

•  stored at room temperature, and 
• received by Laboratory within 24 hours of collection.
   

Sputum specimens must be:

• collected in sterile containers,
• stored cold at 2°C to 8°C, and
• shipped to the Laboratory overnight on cold packs.
   

• At least two patient-specific identifiers required on specimen (e.g., patient full name, date of birth, medical record number).
• Three unique patient identifiers are preferred. 
• Patient identifiers on specimen label must exactly match identifiers on submission form (e.g., abbreviated name on label and full name on form is not acceptable.)
• Additional DSHS Laboratory specimen labeling guidelines available online here

• Ship according to Dangerous Goods Regulations, IATA, and/or CFR 49.
• Category B Biological Substance, UN3373 shipping requirements apply.
• Submitters are responsible for packaging and shipping specimens according to regulatory requirements. 
• Additional DSHS Laboratory specimen shipping guidelines online here.
• Ship overnight on cold packs if specimens are refrigerated.
• Ship specimens overnight Monday–Thursday to avoid weekend deliveries. 
• Do not ship specimens for holiday or weekend delivery. 
• Ensure media used to collect and store autopsy specimens are not expired.

• Material must be viable. Improper storage or shipping temperatures limit organism recovery.
• In the event of an outbreak, the procedure may be modified to screen for an additional set of organisms.
• Where a specific agent of an outbreak has been previously identified and there is a backlog of specimens, the procedure may be modified to screen only for specified organisms.

• insufficient quantity
• unacceptable specimen type or source
• improper shipping conditions
• expired media or collection container
• discrepancies between specimen label and submission form
• incomplete or missing submission form