Medical Microbiology (Bacteriology & Serology)

Form and specimen not tally

Insufficient info on demographic / information for testing

Insufficient volume

Leaking

Name and I/C not tally

No specimen/ form received

Sharing form for many tests

Repeating sample between inappropriate time

The blood bottle not sent/collected in pair at the same date and time (CRBSI)

Sample collected in wrong container

Sample not labelled

Test not offered

Unsuitable specimen for testing (salivary specimen)

Unsuitable specimen for testing

AFB smear POSITIVE (sent > 3 samples at diagnosis)

AFB smear POSITIVE (subsequent samples sent within 2 weeks)    

BFMP smear (Positive) (sent > 1 time within 24 hours)

BFMP smear (Negative) (sent > 1 time within 12 hours)

Poor BFMP smear (Wet smear)

Poor BFMP smear (Detached smear after staining)

Unsuitable Specimen BFMP (Label sticker on smear)

Unsuitable specimen for testing (Cover the manufacturer's blood bottle sticker)

Unsuitable specimen for testing (Cover blood bottle bottom sensor)

Hard stool for Ova & Cyst / C. difficile/ Rotavirus/ Adenovirus testing

Rotavirus request for children >5years

Wrong labelling

Wrong request form

Wrong test requested

Sending ATTEST (Sterrad) samples more than 2 hours

Unsuitable specimen (Frozen urine)

Unsuitable specimen (Urine collected from urinal/urine bag)

Unsuitable specimen (Foley catheter tip)

Unsuitable specimen (>2 hours urine in sterile container)

Unsuitable specimen (>24 hours urine in boric acid container)

Repeat urine culture within 2 days of a previous urine culture

Inadequate blood bottle volume

Primary receptacle

• The container (e.g. tube, vial, and bottle) that holds the specimen.

• Must be securely sealed and leak-proof (Screw-top tubes must have a piece of waterproof tape around the top to prevent the top from coming loose in transit).

• Must be surrounded by absorbent material capable of taking up the entire liquid contents.

• Must be packed in the secondary receptacle in such a way that it will not break.

Secondary packaging 

• The receptacle into which a primary receptacle and the absorbent and cushioning material are placed which is must be leak-proof and securely sealed.

• Must be placed in the outer packaging so that it does not move.

• The biohazard marking should be on the secondary receptacle and may be on the primary receptacle.

• An itemized list of contents is required and is placed OUTSIDE the secondary container. DO NOT place documents inside the secondary container.

• The laboratory request form should be placed OUTSIDE the secondary container. 

Outer packaging

• The receptacle where the secondary packaging with cushioning materials is placed.

• The outer packaging must be rigid.

• The outer packaging bears the addressing information along with all required markings and labels such as:

• The full name and address of the shipper and consignee must be on the outside packaging.

• The outside packaging must have the name and telephone number of a person who is knowledgeable about the contents of the shipment. 

• This is important emergency information in the event an exposure occurs during shipping.