Procedure for Culture Specimen Processing: Extrapulmonary specimens

Extrapulmonary specimens are divided into 2 groups based on the site and mode of collection and the extent of contamination:

1. Aseptically collected specimens, usually free from other microorganisms (sterile), which include fluids like spinal, pleural, pericardial, synovial, ascitic, blood, bone marrow, tissues (lymph node, tissue biopsies) and fine needle aspirates (FNAs)
2. Specimens contaminated by normal flora or specimens not collected aseptically (not sterile), such as gastric lavage, bronchial washings, urine, pus, other muco-purulent specimens and stool (in case of disseminated TB in HIV infected patients and infants)

All extrapulmonary specimens have to be appropriately collected, transported, registered, decontaminated, cultured via solid culture methods or processed for MGIT960.

All extrapulmonary specimens have different processing procedures that need to be used for the respective specimen.

Resources

• Standard Operative Procedure for Collection, Transport, Processing and Inoculation of Extra-pulmonary Specimens, Central TB Division, India.

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