Types of Specimen Collection Containers

Blood Collection Containers – Common Tubes

Please refer to our Order of Draw posters provided.

Obtain a hard copy poster for your clinic by contacting your respective account managers or the Call Centre.

Order of Draw - Vacutainer Method
Order of Draw - Wingset Method
Order of Draw - Syringe Method

Note: Failure to fulfill the requirements stated may result in specimen rejection.

TYPE OF CONTAINERS/DESCRIPTION	COMMENTS
eSwab with liquid Amies medium (sterile applicator swab with flocked nylon fiber tip)	For bacteriological culture from all sites. It contains a special liquid transport medium which will maintain micro-organism viability but does not promote growth of micro-organisms. Pink cap eSwab is suitable for both aerobic & anaerobic organisms.
Double eSwab (flocked swabs with Amies medium) Pink eSwab - Sample axilla and groin, swirl in Amies media and discard swab White eSwab - Sample the anterior nares, break swab and place it in the tube of Amies media	For Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) PCR - XPERT test.
DRY SWAB without Transport Media Sterile cotton swab attached to plastic applicator stick	For Chlamydia Trachomatis PCR and Neisseria Gonorrhoeae PCR test.
SINGLE eSWAB (flocked swabs with Liquid Amies medium)	For Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) PCR - XPERT and Carbapenem-resistant Organisms (CRO) PCR - XPERT Tests.
STOOL CONTAINER Screw cap (brown) plastic container with attached spatula	For collecting stool specimen for routine examination and culture.
URINE CONTAINER, Sterile (UNIVERSAL CONTAINER) Sterile plastic container with screw cap	For routine urinalysis and urine culture. Also suitable for collecting body fluids and sputum for routine examination or culture.

TYPE OF CONTAINERS/DESCRIPTION	COMMENTS
CONTAINER, with Formalin Clean container (50mL) half-filled with formalin	Supplied for transporting small histopathology specimens.
GLASS SLIDE Rectangular 3”x1” glass slide with frosted end	Supplied for collecting cytology smears only. Please write patient’s name on the frosted end of slide in pencil.
SLIDE HOLDER Blue or white plastic holder for 2 slide wells. Supplied with spray fixative	Supplied for holding cytology glass slides only.

TYPE OF SUPPLIES	COMMENTS
BOTTLE OF TRANSPORT MEDIUM	For QF-PCR and Karyotyping on Chorionic Villus or Products of Conception
BOTTLE OF TRANSPORT MEDIUM	For Bone Marrow Karyotyping
MOTTLED BLACK/TAN Cell-Free DNA BCT has chemical additives 10mL x 2	For non-invasive fetal aneuploidy screening (NIPS) tests using maternal blood and circulating tumour DNA testing in oncology. Avoid possible backflow from the tube. Tube contents should not touch stopper or the end of the needle during the collection procedure. Order of Draw: Perform Cell-Free DNA BCT tubes first. After the tube is filled completely, gently invert 8 to 10 times.
PLAIN STERILE UNIVERSAL BOTTLE	For Amniotic Fluid Karyotyping or QF-PCR
SODIUM OR LITHIUM HEPARIN BLOOD TUBE	For Karyotyping and FISH
EDTA BLOOD TUBE	For majority of Molecular Genetics tests

TYPE OF SUPPLIES/DESCRIPTION	COMMENTS
CAPILLARY TUBE (Heparinised) Self sealing	For neonatal serum bilirubin test. Collect 2 or 3 capillary tubes (heparinised) of blood.
SYRINGES and NEEDLES Disposable syringes & needles	For collecting blood into non-vacutainer tubes, i.e. conventional screw-top containers. Sizes available for syringes: 20mL, 10mL, 5mL & 2.5mL Sizes available for needles: 23G 1”, 22G 1½”, 21G 1½”
VACUTAINER NEEDLE Green 21G vacutainer needle, regular size	Disposable vacutainer needle to be used together with vacutainer needle holder for drawing blood specimen into vacutainer tubes.
DISPOSABLE VACUTAINER NEEDLE HOLDER White hollow plastic tube	Used to hold vacutainer needle and the vacutainer tube while collecting blood specimen.
OTHER SUPPLIES, include non-vacutainer collection tubes, thin prep vial with cytobrush etc.	Please call 6278 9188 to request for other supplies.