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Department

Microbiology

Preferred Sample Type

Joint aspirate Microscopy, Culture & Susceptibility
>2ml

Specimen Transport

If unable to send immeadiately please refrigerate sample

Sample Preparation

>2ml

Turnaround Time

3 days

Sample Stability

Kept for a maximum of 4 weeks

Joint aspirate Microscopy, Culture & Susceptibility

Patient Preparation

For general aspects of taking joint aspirates we recommend that users follow either their local protocols or “The Royal Marsden Manual of Clinical Nursing Procedures”.

Joint aspirates

  • All aspirate samples should be collected aseptically and transferred directly to sterile sample containers with no additives of any kind.

Notes

For an urgent sample a telephoned request must be made to the lab, the microscopy will then be telephoned within 1 hour of receipt. Do not use pod system for unrepeatable samples out of hours.

Specifications

  • EQA Scheme?: Yes
  • EQA Status: NEQAS