Beaker Collection and Specimen Handling

BEAKER COLLECTION: Forms: If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send a Microbiology Test Request Form (T244) with the specimen (http://www.mayomedicallaboratories.com/it-mmfiles/microbiology_test_request_form.pdf). Specimen source is required. Submit only 1 of the following specimens: Specimen Type: Central nervous system tissue Container/Tube: Sterile container with 1 mL of saline or minimal essential medium Specimen Volume: Entire collection Specimen Stability Information: Ambient Specimen Type: Contact lens, corneal scraping, corneal tissue Container/Tube: Sterile container with 1 mL of saline or minimal essential medium Specimen Volume: Entire collection Additional Information: The preferred specimen for Acanthamoeba culture from an ocular source is corneal scraping or biopsy. Swab is suboptimal and may result in a falsely negative result. Supplementary slides may be submitted in addition to the scraping or biopsy, but slides alone will not be accepted for testing. Specimen Stability Information: Ambient (preferred)/Refrigerated Specimen Type: Contact lens solution Container/Tube: Sterile container Specimen Volume: 2 mL Specimen Stability Information: Ambient (preferred)/Refrigerated Specimen Type: Spinal fluid Container/Tube: Sterile vial Specimen Volume: 1 mL Specimen Stability Information: Ambient