Specimen Requirements

Specimen Type: Throat

Container/Tube: Copan e-Swab (white or green) or BD E-Swab (white or green) Transport System

Specimen Volume: Swab

Collection Instructions:

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

2. Depress tongue with a tongue depressor so swab does not touch oral mucosa or tongue.

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

4. 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.

5. Place swab in culture transport tube.

Additional Information:

1. Specimen source is required.

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