Gram Stain

Preferred Specimen(s)

3 mL or 2 grams body fluids, CSF, lower respiratory tract specimens, urine or fresh (unfixed) tissue collected in a sterile leak-proof container
1 mL or 1 swab wound, exudates, aspirates, lesion material or ocular specimens collected in a sterile leak-proof container, Amies liquid, Amies gel swab transport system, Stuarts, ESwab, or Port-A-Cul™.
Slides are also acceptable.

Alternative Specimen(s)

3 mL stool collected in a sterile, leak-proof container

Minimum Volume

1 mL • 1 gram • 1 swab • 1 slide

Collection Instructions

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Specimen requirement: Primary specimen from any source in sterile leak-proof container or heat-fixed or methanol-fixed smear in a slide folder. Tissues or brushes in transport medium or in a small amount of sterile saline are acceptable. Stool will only be examined for campylobacter. If culture is requested second swab must be submitted.

Transport Container

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Body fluids, CSF, lower respiratory secretions, urine, tissue
Sterile leak-proof container (preferred), slide (acceptable)

Wound, exudates, aspirates, lesion material, ocular specimens
Sterile leak-proof container, Amies liquid, gel swab transport system, Stuarts, ESwab, or Port-A-Cul™ (preferred), slide (acceptable)

Transport Temperature

All specimens other than stool: Room temperature
Stool: Refrigerated (cold packs)

Specimen Stability

• CSF
• Room temperature: 48 hours
• Refrigerated: Unacceptable
• Frozen: Unacceptable
•  
• Stool
• Room temperature: Unacceptable
• Refrigerated: 48 hours
• Frozen: Unacceptable
•  
• Port-A-Cul™
• Room temperature: 72 hours
• Refrigerated: 72 hours
• Frozen: Unacceptable
•  
• All other specimen types
• Room temperature: 48 hours
• Refrigerated: 48 hours
• Frozen: Unacceptable

Reject Criteria

Smears with cytology fixatives • Broken slides

Setup Schedule