Clinical Info
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Detection of fungi in clinical specimens
Many fungi in the environment cause disease in severely compromised human hosts. Accordingly, the range of potential pathogenic fungi has increased as the number of immunosuppressed individuals (persons with AIDS, patients receiving chemotherapy or transplant rejection therapy, etc) has increased.
Few fungal diseases can be diagnosed clinically; most are diagnosed by isolating and identifying the infecting fungus in the clinical laboratory.
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Collection Instructions
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Specimen Type: Varies
Specimen Type: Body fluid
Container/Tube: Sterile container
Specimen Volume: Entire collection
Specimen Type: Bone marrow
Container/Tube: Sterile container
Specimen Volume: Entire collection
Specimen Type: Fresh tissue or stool
Supplies: Stool Collection Kit, Random (T635)
Container/Tube: Sterile container
Specimen Volume: Pea sized
Collection Instructions: Tissue should be placed in small amount of sterile saline or sterile water.
Specimen Type: Respiratory specimen
Container/Tube: Sterile container
Specimen Volume: Entire collection
Specimen Type: Urine
Container/Tube: Sterile container
Specimen Volume: 2 mL
Collection Instructions: Collect a random urine specimen.
Acceptable
Fresh tissue or body fluid is the preferred specimen type instead of a swab specimen.
Specimen Type: Swab
Sources: Dermal, ear, mouth, ocular, throat, or wound
Container/Tube: Culture transport swab (noncharcoal) Culturette
Specimen Volume: Swab
Collection Instructions:
1. Before collecting specimen, wipe away any excessive amount of secretion and discharge, if appropriate.
2. Obtain secretions or fluid from source with sterile swab.
3. If smear and culture are requested or both a bacterial culture and fungal culture are requested, collect a second swab to maximize test sensitivity.
Specimen Minimum Volume: Bone Marrow or Body Fluid: 1 mL; Respiratory Specimen: 1.5 mL; Tissue: pea-sized piece
Specimen Stability Information:
| Specimen Type | Temperature | Time |
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| Varies | Refrigerated (preferred) | 7 days | | | Ambient | 7 days |
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