TABLE 3.

Specimen priority for movement of microbiology work

Noncritical specimens*

Critical specimens†

Stool for culture Stool for ova and parasites Environmental specimens Mycology (superficial hair, skin, nails) Urogenital specimens (urethra, vaginal, cervix) Upper respiratory specimens (eye, ear, nose, throat) Outpatient urines for culture and susceptibilty (excluding emergency room specimens)

Blood cultures Sterile fluids Specimens from surgical patients Specimens from critically ill patients (to be defined at each hospital) Tissues Deep wounds/abscesses/aspirates Lower respiratory track specimens (sputum, bronchial washes, bronchoalveolar lavage) Catheter tips/sites Nonoutpatient/emergency roomurines Mycology (nonsuperficial) Specimens from Emergency room patients Specimens from patients in any ICU Specimens from patients admitted to oncology/burn unit Superficial wounds (excludes line sites and all ICU, emergency room, oncology specimens) Stool for Clostridium difficile (dependent on the adoption of a common procedure)

^*Specimens already performed in community laboratory that could be recollected;

^†Invaluable specimens that could not be easily recollected and specimens from critically ill (ie, intensive care unit [ICU]) patients