The document outlines the critical aspects of specimen collection, handling, and transportation in a laboratory setting, emphasizing safety protocols such as the use of personal protective equipment and proper labeling. It details various types of specimens, the importance of adequate volume, appropriate timing, and the procedures to avoid contamination. Additionally, it discusses rejection criteria for specimens and transportation methods to maintain the integrity of samples until they reach the laboratory.

1. Collection, handling and
transportation of laboratory
specimens
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2. Definition
 Definition of specimen
o Specimen is a part taken to determine the
character of the whole.
 Safety during collection, processing &
transportation
o Masks (e.g. sputum)
o Gloves
o Protective eye ware (goggles)
o Protective clothing (gown) 2

3. Specimen collection…..
 Several different kinds of specimens are used routinely
in the clinical laboratory.
 These are:
 Blood
 Urine
 Stool
 Sputum
 Pus (discharge)
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4. Specimen collection…..
Throat, eye, ear, vaginal swabs
 Skin snips
 Body fluids (pleural, pericardial, peritoneal, synovial,
and cerebro spinal)
Hair, nail, cutaneous tissue
Biopsy tissue from an organ.
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5. Basic Concept in Specimen Collection
1. Site selection
a. Clinician
• Should locate right anatomic site & select
appropriate tests & specimens based on:
• - Physical examination (sign & symptoms)
 - Radiological examination
b. Laboratory personnel
• Should collect specimens from actual infection site
with little external contamination by using :
Aseptic technique
• To prevent contamination of specimen &
• To protect the patient from infection
Sterile container
• . Should collect specimens from right site
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6. Basic Concept in Specimen Collection …..
 Sites of Infection where the Specimen is Likely to
Become Contaminated During Collection
o Lower respiratory tract ----- Oro-pharynx
o Bladder ……………..… Urethra
o Cervix …………. Vagina
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7. Basic Concept in Specimen Collection
…..
 Approaches to Avoid contamination :
o Careful patient education
 There are occasions when patients participate
actively in specimen collection (e.g. sputum, urine).
 Therefore, they must be given full instructions &
cooperation by the care giver.
o Educating the clinicians
 How to collect & transport specimens through
written document & make available at every patient
care unit.
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8. Specimen collection…..
2. Volume of specimens
 Collecting & processing too little specimen will give us
lower sensitivity.
 Collecting adequate volume:
o enhance recovery of the pathogen.
o enable to perform all procedures required or to
permit complete examination.
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9. Specimen collection…..
 For example;
o Sputum: 5 -10 ml for mycobacterium examination.
o Blood:
 Serology: minimum 2 - 3 ml.
 Culture: 10 – 20 ml (adult) & 1-5ml (infant).
o CSF: 5 – 10 ml.
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10. Specimen collection…..
3. Time of collection
 Provide best chance of recovery of the causative
agent .
Sputum & urine
 early in the morning soon after the patient
awaken.
Blood
 when the patients temperature begins to rise. 10

11. Specimen collection…..
4. Collect specimens before the administration of
antimicrobial
 Because antimicrobials limits recovery of pathogens.
5. Age of specimens
o Age of the specimen directly influences the recovery
of protozoan organism.
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12. Specimen collection…..
6. Stage of the disease at which the specimen is
collected
o Enteric pathogens are present in great numbers
during the acute or diarrheal stage of intestinal
infection.
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13. Specimen collection…..
7. Labeling
 Make sure that you are collecting/drawing the right
person first.
 Then label with:
o Patient name
o Unique identification number
o Patient demographic information
o Specimen collection date
o Specimen collection location
o Diagnostic test results
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14. Specimen collection…..
 During Labeling:
o Make sure that container label & the requisition match.
o Label should be on the container not on the lid, since the
lid can be mistakenly placed on a different container.
o Ensure the labels on the containers are adherent under
refrigerated conditions.
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15. 3.3 General Rejection Criteria
1. Unlabelled Specimens
o Common specimen like blood, urine, swabs, sputum,
stool, can be easily recollected.
o less common specimens like CSF, fluids, tissues,
etc. are more difficult to recollect.
o Call the person who collected it for the identification of
the specimen.
o If he is unable to identify the specimen, the ordering
physician will be notified. 15

16. General Rejection Criteria……
2. Incorrectly labeled (mislabeled) specimens
o Use same criteria as for Unlabelled Specimens.
3. Incorrect container or Preservative
o Specimens received in an incorrect container, or
without appropriate preservative, will require
recollection.
o So the patient will be contacted to arrange for
recollection of the specimen. 16

17. General Rejection Criteria……
4. Insufficient specimen for procedure
o If insufficient, recollect (urine, stool, sputum, blood,
etc.)
o If the specimen is not recollectable (CSF, fluids, etc.),
the physician will be contacted to establish a priority
order of tests.
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18. General Rejection Criteria……
5. Unsuitable Specimen for Procedures
 Specimens which are unsuitable for the procedure
requested saliva for sputum test or specimen too long
for a valid result.
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19. Specimen Transportation
 Required when:
o Specimens are to be sent to referral laboratory.
o For teaching purpose.
o For Quality assurance.
o Unavailability of trained personnel around the
collection site.
o Specimens are collected in the field.
o Lack of time to examine within the recommended time
due to laboratory workload. 19

20. Specimen Transportation......
 This transportation is made by using different
preservation methods
 Physical
 chemical.
- chemical method of preservation is most
common.
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21. Specimen Transportation......
 Purpose of preservation :
o Maintain protozoan morphology
o Prevent development of helminthes eggs & larvae
o Maintain viability of microorganisms
o Prevent overgrowth of normal flora
o Prevent instability of solutes & degeneration of
sediments (e.g. urine)
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22. Specimen Transportation......
 Specimen packaging
o Screw container tops on firmly
o Wrap in absorbent wadding to absorb any fluid
leakage
o Place in a self-sealing plastic bag
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23. Specimen Transportation......
o Place the request form into the secondary pocket of
the specimen bag.
o Hazard labels with internationally accepted biohazard
label (HIGH RISK).
o Pack specimens in strong cardboard box or a
grooved polystyrene box.
o Seal with self-adhesive tape.
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24. Specimen Transportation......
 Specimen Storage (Prior to Dispatch)
o Urine can be stored at either freezer or refrigerator at
+4 oc.
o Blood samples should be kept at +4 oc.
o Serum & plasma can be stored either frozen or at
+4oc.
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25. Specimen Transportation......
Note: If they are frozen, they should not be unfrozen until
dispatch to the laboratory.
 Transport
o Urgent requests within normal laboratory hours.
o Transport with labelled, tightly fitted, leak proof
container.
o Wet ice or ice pack should be used.
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