Specimen Requirements

Specimen Type: Throat

Container/Tube: Swab in sterile culture transport tube, White cap Eswab or Red cap double swab.

Specimen Volume: Swab

Collection Instructions:

1. Remove cap and swab from tube.

2. Tilt patient’s head back to assist in opening of mouth as wide as possible.

3. Depress tongue with a tongue depressor so swab doesn’t touch tongue.

4. If patient has complained of 1 spot being sore, swab that area well.

5. In 1 continuous motion:

a. Swab 1 tonsillar area up then down.

b. Move to back of throat as far down as possible, and swab there.

c. Move to other tonsillar area and swab.

d. Swab behind uvula and remove swab.

6. Return swab to sterile culture transport tube.

7. Label tube with patient’s name (first, last, and middle initial), medical record number (if appropriate), date of birth and/or Social Security number, and date and time of collection.

8. See Swab Collection and Transport Guide in Special Instructions for additional information.

Additional Information: Specimen source is required.