Specimen Requirement

Rectal Swab: Carefully insert a Culturette swab 1 inch beyond the anal sphincter. Gently rotate the swab to sample the anal crypts just inside the anal ring, avoiding fecal contamination as much as possible. If feces is visible on the swab, recollect.

Throat: Use a Culturette swab to collect the specimen by depressing the tongue with a tongue depressor and
swabbing the posterior pharynx, tonsils, and inflamed areas. Be careful NOT to touch oral mucosa, tongue,
or teeth with the swab.

Eye Conjunctiva: Sample both eyes using separate swabs moistened with sterile saline by rolling over each
conjunctiva (swab both eyes even if only one is infected to determine endogenous microflora).

Cervix: Visualize the cervix using a speculum without lubricant. Remove mucus and secretions with a swab and
discard the swab. Firmly, yet gently, sample the endocervical canal with a Culturette swab.

Urethra: Collect the specimen 1 hour after the patient has urinated. Remove exudate from the urethral
orifice.  Insert a culturette swab 2-4 cm into the urethral lumen, rotate the swab, and leave it in place for 2 seconds to facilitate absorption.