Decontaminate skin with 70% alcohol followed by iodine or chlorhexidine. Aspirate fluid by percutaneous aspiration using aseptic technique to avoid contamination and a syringe and needle. Dispense in sterile container and transport to laboratory.
Abscess contents/aspirates/sterile fluids
○ Samples should be collected aseptically through decontaminated skin using a syringe and needle and placed in a sterile container and submitted to the laboratory ASAP. Collecting swabs of fluids/abscess contents/aspirate has lower yield and should NOT be done.
Tympanocentesis fluid:
○ Clean external ear canal with mild detergent. Use a syringe to aspirate fluid from the eardrum. Dispense fluid into a sterile container and transport to laboratory.
○ If anaerobic culture required, dispense some of the aspirated fluid into an anaerobic transport medium
Intraocular fluids (aqueous, vitreous):
○ Collect an aspirate of vitreous fluid or paracentesis of anterior chamber using a needle aspiration technique. Dispense fluid into sterile container.
Tissue/Biopsies
○ Collect 5-10 mm3 tissue/bone aseptically using surgical technique/punch biopsy. Place in a clean, sterile container with a small amount of sterile saline. Do not wrap tissue in gauze. Sample viable infected tissue rather than superficial debris. Collect tissues from areas within and adjacent to infected area.
○ If lesion is cutaneous, collect biopsy from periphery of lesion or aspirate material under lesion margin
For fine needle aspirates, insert needle into tissue in different directions. Aspirate specimen into container.
Drainages
○ Samples should be collected aseptically through the drain and placed in a sterile container and submitted to the laboratory ASAP.