Specimen Collection Guide
pathology.mater.org.au
Specimen Collection Guide
This chart indicates the specimen required for most frequently requested tests. If the desired test is not listed here please contact Mater Pathology
on 07 3163 8500.
Important Information
Always label all specimens IMMEDIATELY after collection with the following details:
•
•
•
•
Full name
Date of birth
Collection time and date
Location
Blood Collection Tubes—Always mix tubes immediately after collection by gently inverting the tubes 6 to 8 times.
Sodium citrate tube (blue top)
Note: Tube must be filled to the top of the
fill line
Haematology/coagulation studies:
• Prothrombin time
• Thrombophilia tests
• Factor assays etc. (+ EDTA lavender top)
• INR
• APTT
• D-Dimer
• Fibrinogen
Serum separation tube (SST) (orange
top)
After clotting for 20 to 30 minutes, the tube
should be centrifuged for 10 minutes and
transported within 4 hours of collection.
• E/LFT – including urea, glucose,
electrolytes, liver function tests,
cholesterol, triglycerides (lipids), CK
• Troponin
• Proteins – EPP, Immunoglobulins, IgG, etc.
• Endocrinology tests – Thyroid function
tests, FSH, LH, etc.
• Pregnancy tests
• Autoantibodies
• Microbial, parasitic and viral serology
- hepatitis serology, rubella antibodies,
etc.
• Tumour markers*
• Iron studies – B12
• Therapeutic drug monitoring
Trace tube (navy top)
• Copper
• Zinc
• Selenium
• Aluminium
Plasma separation tube (PST) (Light
green top)
• Blood alcohol (not for legal purposes)
*Special collection required. Please contact laboratory.
Blood bank EDTA tube (pink top)
Note: Collectors signature is required on
request form declaration and tube. Do not
use pre-printed labels on tube.
• Crossmatch (+ EDTA lavender top)
• Group and hold (+ EDTA lavender top)
• Group and antibody screen
EDTA tube (lavender top)
• Full blood count – including
haemoglobin, white cell count, platelet
count
• Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
• Red cell folate
• Hb EPP
• HbA1c
• Thalassaemia screen
• Malaria screen
• Zinc proto porphyrin (ZPP)
• Genetic studies
Fluoride oxalate tube (grey top)
• Lactate studies
• Glucose (if delay in cell separation is
unavoidable), glucose tolerance tests
and other dynamic function tests which
include glucose
Lithium heparin tube (dark green top)
• Metabolic studies – amino acids, etc.
• Cytogenetics - chromosomes
• T&B cell studies*
• Lymphocyte studies/subsets*
Acid citrate dextrose tube (ACD)
• HLA B27 testing
• Tissue typing*
Microbiology and Cytology
Blood culture bottles
Adult
• Store and transport at room
temperature
• Collect 10-20 mL of blood
per set, divide evenly into
2 bottles (aerobic then
anaerobic)
Paediatric
• Store and transport at room
temperature
• Collect 1-3 mL of blood
per set, divide evenly into
2 bottles (paediatric then
anaerobic)
Faeces container
• Store and transport at room
temperature
• Where amoebae are
suspected, the specimen
should be received by the
laboratory within 30 minutes
of being passed
• All other specimens
should be received by the
laboratory within 2 hours of
being passed
N. gonorrhoea and
chlamydia trachomatis
swab
Urethral swab
• Store and transport at room
temperature
Endocervical swab
• Store and transport at room
temperature
• Use large swab to remove
cervical mucous
Thin Prep (if required)
• Can also be used for N.
gonorrhoea and Chlamydia
Trachomatis testing (PCR
swab is preferred)
Sterile70 mL urine container
• Store and transport at 4°C
Uses:
• Urine m/c/s
• Chlamydia or Gonococcus PCR
• PCR for CMV, Adenovirus,
Trichomonas vaginalis PCR, HSV
& VZV
• TB or malignant cells/cytology
• All other body fluids and
secretions
Urine collection bottles (24 hr
urine bottle)
• Store and transport at 4°C
• The bottle should be refrigerated
between collections
• Certain collections may need
preservative
Uses:
• Used for timed urine collections.
Patient instructions are written
on bottle.
Pap smear
Cervical, vault and vulval smears
• Store and transport at room
temperature
• Use collection kit supplied by the
laboratory
• Fix slide immediately on collection
Thin Prep (if required)
• Store and transport at room
temperature
• Use ThinPrep brand in conjunction
with standard smear kit – Not
SurePath
• Can also be used for HPV typing
HPV typing (Digene Kit)
• Store and transport at room
temperature
• Either ThinPrep or Digene kit can
be used
pathology.mater.org.au
Microbiology and Cytology
PCR/Viral transport system
swabs
• Store and transport at 4°C
Uses:
• Viral and Respiratory PCR
• CMV
• HSV and VZV
• Enteroviruses
• Routine virology
Transystem bacterial transport
swab
• Store and transport at room
temperature
Uses:
• Bacterial culture from any site
• For screening MRSA, VRE and
multi-resistant gram negative
bacteria (MRGN)
Flocked swab (dry flexible
swab)
• Store and transport at 4°C
• Collect a second swab if
other than PCR testing is
required (i.e. rapid antigen
testing)
Uses:
• PCR and respiratory viruses
(i.e. Bordetella Pertussis)
• HSV
• VZV
• CMV
• Enteroviruses
• Syphilis chancre
Fine needle aspirate (FNA kit)
• Store and transport at 4°C
• Contains slides for fixing and
medium for needle washings
Uses:
• FNA for m/c/s
• FNA for cytology
Cerebrospinal fluid
containers (CSF—sterile)
• Store and transport
immediately at room
temperature
• Minimum amounts required:
Bacterial ≥ 1 mL; AFB ≥
2 mL; Viral PCR ≥ 0.5 mL;
Fungi ≥ 2 mL
Nasopharyngeal aspirate
• Store and transport at 4°C
• Contains sterile screw top
lid and cap suction set
Uses:
• For m/c/s, respiratory viral
testing (PCR and EIA) and
Bordetella Pertussis (PCR)
Histology specimen jar
• Store and transport at 4°C
Uses:
• All standard biopsy collections
(except frozen sections) should be
placed in formalin
• For frozen section bookings,
contact the laboratory on 07 3163
8500
• If additional tests are needed,
please contact pathologist on 07
3163 8500
Biopblade:
• For use in histology collections
including: shave biopsy,
saucerisation of flat lesions and
levelling of pedunculated lesions.
Punch biopsy devices:
• Available with internal plunger or
without in several sizes
Fungal scrapings envelope
• Store and transport at room
temperature
• Scrapings may be placed in either
the scrapings envelope or a clean
dry sterile container (yellow top)
• Please do not include scalpel
blade with sample
Order of Draw
Vacutainer method
Syringe method
1. Blood culture bottles
1. Blood culture bottles
2. Pale blue top (sodium citrate)
2. Pale blue top (sodium citrate) er (yellow top)
3. Orange top and navy top (tubes without chemical
additive)
3. Pink top/lavender top (EDTA)
4. Green top and light green top (lithium heparin)
4. Green top and light green top (lithium heparin)
5. Pink top/lavender top (EDTA)
5. Orange top and navy top (tubes without chemical
additive)
6. Grey top (fluoride oxalate)
6. Grey top (fluoride oxalate)
7. Yellow top (ACD-acid citrate dextrose)
7. Yellow top (ACD-acid citrate dextrose)
24 hour collection service
Mater Private Emergency Care Centre,Vulture Street South Brisbane Qld 4101
For a complete list of Mater Pathology’s community collection centres please visit
pathology.mater.org.au.
pathology.mater.org.au
Q U A L I T Y
© Mater Misericordiae Health Services Brisbane Limited
Last updated May 2012
MHS-800-02979
Telephone 07 3163 8500