Swabs - skin, superficial wounds

About This Test

Department: Infection Science - Bacteriology

Requirement:

Unless otherwise stated, swabs for bacterial and fungal culture should then be placed in Copan e swab - Liquid Amies transport medium. Samples of pus/exudate, if present, are preferred to swabs

Turnaround Time:

2-3 days

Culture for a range of common pathogens causing superficial wound infections

Other Comments:

Collection container: Pink topped Copan e swab – liquid Amies medium

Special instructions:

Relevant clinical data and details of recent or current antimicrobial treatment should be provided.

Collect specimens before antimicrobial therapy where possible.

If specimens are taken from ulcers, the debris on the ulcer should be removed and the ulcer should be cleaned with saline.

Swabbing dry crusted areas is unlikely to yield the causative pathogen.

Sample a representative part of the lesion.

State the specific anatomical site of the sample.

NB Please state if IVDU, contact with animals or livestock, recent or prolonged foreign travel.

Please send biopsy if tropical ulcer

Specimen transport: If transport is delayed, refrigeration is preferable to storage at ambient temperature