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Questions and Answers
What is the primary function of Boric acid in specimen collection?
Specimens should be collected during the acute phase of illness.
True
What temperature should specimens be stored at in a refrigerator?
4°C
Which anticoagulant is considered best for blood cultures?
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Specimens must be placed in a ______ container for transport.
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Match the type of specimen with its appropriate storage condition:
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What types of specimens can heparin inhibit the growth of?
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Study Notes
Specimen Collection
- Specimens are collected during the acute phase of infection, before antimicrobial therapy.
- Ideally, specimens are transported immediately, within 1-2 hours.
- Specimens should be transported in leak-proof containers.
Transport Media
- Transport media are used to maintain the viability of microorganisms during transport.
- Maintain viability without encouraging growth.
- Stuart’s Medium, Amies Medium, Cary and Blair Medium are examples.
Specimen Preservation
- Boric acid is used for urine specimens to maintain appropriate colony counts.
- Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), or buffered formalin is used for stool specimens to maintain the integrity of trophozoites, cysts, ova, and parasites (O&P).
Specimen Storage Conditions
- Room (ambient) Temperature: 22°C. Examples: Abscess, wound, tissue, lesion, body fluid, throat, nasal samples.
- Refrigerator Temperature: 4°C.
- Body Temperature (incubator): 37°C. Examples: Cerebrospinal fluid for bacteria.
- Freezer Temperature: -20°C; -70°C if processing will be delayed more than 4 days.
Anticoagulants
- Used to prevent clotting in specimens like blood, bone marrow, and synovial fluid.
- Type and concentration are important.
- Anticoagulants can inhibit the growth of some organisms.
Sodium Polyanethol Sulfonate (SPS)
- Used in blood cultures.
- Concentration: 0.025% to 0.03% (some up to 0.05%).
- Anti-complementary, antiphagocytic, and interferes with antimicrobial actions.
- Inhibits growth of some Neisseria strains.
Heparin
- Used in viral cultures.
- Inhibits growth of gram-positive bacteria and yeasts.
Specimen Rejection
- Citrate blood tubes (blue top) should not be used.
- EDTA blood tubes (lavender top) should not be used.
- Yellow top tubes are not recommended for microbiology.
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Description
Explore the essential practices for specimen collection and transport in microbiology. This quiz covers the acute phase of infection, the importance of transport media, and methods for preserving specimen integrity. Understand proper storage conditions and how to optimize specimen viability during transport.
