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Test Code LAB233 Anaerobic Culture

Performing Lab

Arnot Ogden Medical Center

Ordering Recommendations

Diagnosing anaerobic bacterial infections.

Collect

SITE Acceptable Specimen
Head/Neck

*Abscess aspirate obtained by needle/syringe after surface decontamination

*Biopsy material surgically obtained

*Anaerobic swab in anaerobic transport tube

* Eswab
Dental/ENT

*Aspirated abscess material

*Biopsied tissue
Lung

*Transtracheal aspirate

*Material from percutaneous lung puncture

*Biopsy material surgically obtained

*Bronchoscopy specimens

*Thoracotomy specimens

*Anaerobic swab / Eswab surgically obtained

*Pleural fluid obtained by thoracentesis

*Sulfur granules from a draining fistula
Central Nervous System

*Abscess aspirate obtained by needle and syringe

*Biopsy material surgically obtained

*Anaerobic swab / Eswab surgically obtained

*CSF
Abdomen

*Peritoneal (ascetic) fluid obtained by needle and syringe

*Abscess aspirate obtained by needle and syringe

*Bile

*Biopsy material surgically obtained

*Anaerobic swabs / Eswab
Urinary Tract

*Suprapubic aspirate

*Kidney/ureter collection

*Cystoscope specimens
Female Genital Tract

*Culdoscopy specimens

*Endometrial aspirate

*Abscess aspirate obtained by needle and syringe

*Biopsy material surgically obtained

*Anaerobic swabs / E swab surgically obtained

*IUD for Actinomyces or Eubacterium ONLY
Bone/Joint

*Abscess aspirate obtained by needle and syringe

*Biopsy material surgically obtained

*Anaerobic swab  / E swab 
Soft Tissue (including localized abscesses and decubitis ulcers)

*Aspirate obtained by needle and syringe

*Biopsy material obtained surgically

*Aspirate from sinus tract

*Deep aspirate of open wound margin obtained through decontaminated skin

*Deep aspirate of surface ulcer through decontaminated skin
Stomach/Small bowel *Only for workup of blind-loop or malabsorption syndrome
Large bowel *Only for sendout processing with suspected C. difficile or C. botulinum involvement. Not tested at AOMC.
Other

*Blood

*Bone marrow

*Aspirated synovial fluid

*Biopsied tissue from any normally sterile site.

 

Stability (from collection to initiation)

Must be received in laboratory within 24 hours of collection.

Storage/Transport Temperature

Room Temperature

Transport time depends on the volume and nature of the specimen.

Large volumes of purulent material and large pieces of tissue maintain the viability of anaerobes for many hours.

Swabs and small volumes of aspirated material, biopsy specimens or currettings should be transported in an anaerobic transport device.

Methodology

Conventional Culture

Start Date

9/13/2017

Last Review Date

6/12/2025

Specimen Handling

Room Temperature

Remarks

  • Unacceptable sites are: throat, mouth, urine (unless suprapubic or obtained by surgical methods), vaginal specimens, lower GI sites, and sputum (unless tracheal aspirate, or bronchial collections)
  • Unacceptable collection device: BBL Culturette swab
  • Samples in formalin will not be accepted.
  • Gram Stain is included with this culture order.
  • Susceptibility testing will be performed on significant isolates.

Specimen Preparation

  • Materials from a syringe must be delivered with the needle REMOVED and syringe recapped.
  • Acceptable specimens are: normally sterile sites, body fluids, joint fluids, wounds, and surgical sites.
  • Place tissue samples in a sterile container. May cover with a small amount of saline.
  • Tissue samples in formalin will NOT be accepted.
  • Collection using a swab is the least desirable specimen. If a swab is to be used, it MUST be an anaerobic transport device or an Eswab.