Specimen Requirements

Cervix, Endocervix, or Vaginal Specimen (Females)

1.  Do not use lubricant on speculum.
2. Cervical mucus should be removed first before inserting swab into endocervical canal.
3. Move swab from side-to-side. Avoid touching swab to uninfected surface.
4. Specimen should be plated directly onto modified Thayer-Martin.                              5.
5. Before inoculating plate, check to make sure it is not dried out (these specimens will be rejected by laboratory). It is best to obtain Thayer-Martin media from laboratory just before specimen is obtained.
6. Label container with patient’s full name, date and time of collection, and type of specimen.
7. Transport to laboratory in a CO₂ bag at ambient temperature only. 

Ureathra Specimen (Males)

1. Use a mini-tip swab to collect specimen.
2. Collect specimen 1 hour or more after urination. It may be collected from discharge. If no discharge is present, a sterile nasopharyngeal-type swab may be used to obtain specimen from anteria urethra.
3. Insert mini-tip swab 2 cm to 4 cm into urethra.
4. Rotate swab so that it comes into contact with all urethral surfaces. Leave swab inserted 2 to 3 seconds and remove.
5. Specimen should be plated directly onto modified Thayer-Martin.
6. Before inoculating plate, check to make sure it is not dried out (these specimens will be rejected by laboratory). It is best to obtain Thayer-Martin media from laboratory just before specimen is obtained.
7. Label container with patient’s full name, date and time of collection, and type of specimen.
8. Transport to laboratory in a CO₂ bag at ambient temperature only. 

Note: Prostatic culture is less informative than urethral culture.