Preliminary: 3 days
Final: 7 days

7 days a week, 7 am to 7 pm

Acceptable specimens:
•    Deep pharyngeal: cough or gagged, throat specimen submitted using a Stuart swab, Plastic-shaft, Dacron or rayon-tipped (flocked swab preferred/preferably samples collected and submitted with an E-SWAB) in the back of the throat and induce coughing (this technique is used for children).
•    Sputum: cough, induced.
•    Endotracheal aspirates (for ventilated patients): submit in a sterile container. 
•    Bronchial alveolar lavage (BAL): protected specimen brushings and transbronchial specimens.
Specimen transport and stability: Transport samples to the laboratory as soon after collection as possible. If the specimen cannot be transported and processed within 4 hours, store at 2 to 8 degrees Celsius for up to 24 hours.
Rejection criteria: An unlabeled specimen or any specimen received in a Fixative transport container (Formalin, Ethanol, etc.).
Since bronchoscopic specimens are invasive specimens, all attempts will be made to process these specimens, even if they are compromised (e.g. leaking or cracked container), as long as the safety of laboratory personnel is not at risk. However, on the final report “SPECIMEN QUALITY MAY HAVE BEEN COMPROMISED” will appear. (OHSU staff can use the SmartPhrase MMCOMP).

See above.

CF Culture
Culture, CF
Culture, Sputum Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic Fibrosis Culture