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Bone culture, routine (Calgary/South)
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Test Name:
Bone culture, routine (Calgary/South)
Body Source(s):
Bone
Clinical Prerequisite(s):
For other tissue specimens, refer to: Tissue culture (Calgary/South)
For bone marrow specimens, refer to: Bone marrow culture (Calgary/South)
If fungal culture is required, refer to: Fungal culture
If mycobacterial culture is required: APL test directory

Provision of relevant, clinical information is important to ensure a clinically relevant result
Always provide:
• specimen source
• current antibiotic therapy, start date, route, and dose
• clinical history - symptoms and start date

Clearly indicate on the requisition or on a ConnectCare order, if the specimen is associated with prosthetic material, hardware or implanted device.
•  Use checklist when collecting intra-operative specimens for diagnosis of prosthetic joint infection


Collection Device/Tube Type:
60 mL sterile, plastic container
Anaerobic transport system (PRAS or equivalent)
Comments:
Specimen Requirement(s):
•  Collect tissue samples large enough to allow performance of all required tests (eg., 3-4 mm biopsy sample)
•  For diagnosis of prosthetic joint infections (PJI) collect 5-6 tissue specimens.
      -  Place each specimen in a separate, sterile container

Collection Instructions:
  1. Collect tissue specimens under aseptic conditions
  2. Avoid any contamination when placing tissue into the specimen container
  3. Small tissue: Embed the tissue into the anaerobic transport medium within 5mm from the bottom.
    • replace and tighten the lid immediately
    Large tissue: Place the tissue in a sterile, plastic container - on sterile gauze
    • Moisten with non-bacteriostatic saline
  4. For multiple specimen collections, ensure that each specimen container has a corresponding requisition

For prosthesis-related specimens:

  1. Sharp dissection is recommended for excision, rather than cautery
  2. Collect 5 to 6 tissues, each 3-4 mm in size.  DO NOT send swabs
  3. Collect each tissue from a different suspected area - ideally from the inter-surface membrane
  4. Use different instruments for each tissue, to avoid cross-contamination
  5. Place each tissue sample in a separate container
    • Cover with preservative-free saline
  6. Each tissue sample requires a separate requisition

Note:
•  Tissue biopsy/sample should be collected from areas within and adjacent to the area of infection
•  Tissue submitted  in a dry, sterile container are sub-optimal and will compromise the recovery of fastidious organisms

Handling and Storage:
*Room Temperature
DO NOT refrigerate
Handling/Storage Comments:
Transport to the testing laboratory as soon as possible after collection

Turnaround Times
See Microbiology Information»
Comments:
Avoid swab collection if tissue samples can be obtained.  Viable, infected tissues are always superior to swabs.

Last Reviewed:
10 May 2024
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