Preferred Sample Type
Suitable Specimen Types
- Liquid Swab
Sample Preparation
If unable to send immediately please refrigerate sampleTurnaround Time
4 daysSample Stability
Specimen kept for 1 weekUrethral swab microscopy culture and sensitivities
General Information
Liquid culture eswabs (orange tops) replace the old charcoal swabs from 01/07/13 onwards. Please make sure no charcoal swabs are sent otherwise they will be rejected. Please refer to Clinical bacteriology on the Microbiology services section.
Patient Preparation
General guidance on how to use liquid eSwabs:ESWAB INSTRUCTIONS
For general aspects of taking genital swab samples we recommend that users follow either their local protocols or “The Royal Marsden Manual of Clinical Nursing Procedures”.
Penile (urethral) swabs
- Use orange top urethral e-swab
- The patient should not have passed urine for at least one hour.
- Retract prepuce. Pass the swab gently through the urethral meatus and rotate gently.
Notes
Order liquid swabs from requisition forms provided to your department. If STD suspected then an APTIMA swab or urine is also acceptable for Chlamydia and Gonococci PCR testing.
Genito urinary medicine/ sexual health clinics please contact laboratory for details of what samples to take.
Please click here for information about which swab for what test.