Provision of relevant clinical information is important to ensure a clinically relevant result

·    State specimen source

·    State current antibiotic therapy and start date

·    Provide clinical history, including symptoms, signs and duration

·    Indicate clearly, if yeast culture is required

Preferred specimen:  abscess fluid/aspirate/pus or tissue

·    Avoid swab collection if aspirate or biopsy samples can be obtained

·    Collect specimen prior to antimicrobial therapy for greatest diagnostic sensitivity

1.

Fluid / aspirate / pus:  Under strict, aseptic conditions, using needle and syringe

·      Aspirate infected material from enclosed, deep abscess

·      Inject specimen into anaerobic transport media

Alternatively, the specimen can be submitted in a sterile container – do not overfill

2.

Swab:  A swab can be collected from an abscess cavity that has been incised under aseptic conditions or, when only extremely low volume of fluid can be obtained

·    Place inoculated swab into anaerobic transport media

3.

Tissue:  A biopsy sample of the abscess capsule or tissue may also be collected during surgical incision and drainage procedures

·    Submit in anaerobic transport media or a sterile container