– It is important to take the swabs as sterile as possible to avoid contamination with physiological flora.
– Swabs for bacteriology (aerobic and anaerobic germs) and mycology should be sent with transport medium (swab in medium, TM) to protect the germs during shipment.
– For information on swabs without transport medium, see section Preanalytics / PCR.
– If both a culture and a PCR test should be done, it is necessary to send in 2 swabs (one swab with and one without transport medium).
– Urine should be sent in a sterile tube using a swab with transport medium or using Uricult, always in combination with a urine sample. If cystocentesis urine is sent in, please make sure to remove the needle.
– Hair and/or skin scrapings (without the scalpel!) for dignosis of dermatophyte are best sent in in a sterile container, a paper bag or aluminium foil.
– For sending faeces/excrement, special transport tubes should be used, no bags or gloves tied with a knot; also avoid the use of glass containers.
– Blood culture bottles are available after prior written order (subject to a charge). Information on the different blood culture bottles available can be found here.
– For all swabs for bacteriology, the location (sampling site) and the species must be indicated on the submission form. This is, for example, necessary for the evaluation of antibiograms, but also if respiratory pathogens like Bordetella bronchiseptica and Histophilus somni are suspected, as special culture media are required! For the detection of Histophilus somni and Mannheimia haemolytica, a deep swab needs to be taken.