Blood: ○ Decontaminate skin with 70% alcohol followed by iodine or chlorhexidine, collect at least 5 mL of blood (at least 2mL if infant) CSF: ○ Decontaminate skin, perform lumbar puncture to collect at least 1 mL of CSF in sterile container. Tissue: ○ Collect 5-10 mm3 tissue aseptically using surgical technique. Place in a clean, sterile container with a small amount of sterile saline. BAL ○ Pass bronchoscope transnasally or transorally (if patient is not intubated) or via endotracheal tube (if patient is intubated). Instill a large volume of 0.85% sterile saline (nonbacteriostatic) into the airway lumen. Discard the initial fluid recovered (likely contaminated). Collect remaining fluid in a clean, sterile container via suction. Pleural fluid ○ Decontaminate skin. Insert needle into pleural space, aspirate fluid into syringe OR collect pleural fluid directly from drain if chest tube has been inserted to drain pleural space. Transfer specimen (min volume 1 mL) into sterile, leakproof container Amniotic fluid: ○ Collect at least 1mL of fluid by amniocentesis, Caesarean section or by aspiration with a transcervical intrauterine catheter in a clean, sterile container.
Lymph node aspirate ○ Decontaminate skin, collect lymph node via biopsy or needle aspirate with sterile technique. Place in sterile container
Refer to section Sample Processing / Delivery
PHOL
○ Up to 3 days for microscopy
416-586-4800 extension 4636
NO
○ Label specimen container. Place specimens in biohazard bag and seal.
○ Specimens should be transported to the UHN/SH Microbiology Laboratory at refrigeration temperature (2-8˚C) ASAP after collection.
○ The specimen will be referred to PHOL for microscopy testing. PHOL will refer PCR testing to NRCP.