Well summarize

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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