Containers for Laboratory Investigations
· Container
o
Is a carrier of specimen
Types of containers
·
Wax carton
o
Wax cartons are made in the laboratory
using cardboard and a stapler
o
These cartons can be used only once for
sputum collection in the laboratory
·
Universal bottle
- These are glass or plastic bottles with screw
caps
- have the capacity of 25 ml
·
Plastic container with cap
- Are made of plastic materials
- Are containers with different capacities
·
Bijou bottle
- These are glass or plastic bottles with screw
caps
- Have the capacity of 5ml
Significance of Containers
·
Differentiates tests
·
Stores specimens
·
Prevents infections
·
Identifies type of specimens
·
Helps to handle and transport the
specimens
·
Easier to write patient information
Containers for Laboratory
Investigations
Container for Stool collection
·
The following types of containers are
suitable for the collection of stool specimens
o
Wax container
o
Empty clean container with a lid
o
Plastic jar specially designed for stool
collection, with a spoon attached to the stopper
·
Container
for Urine collection
- Routine analysis-use clean, dry, wide-mouthed
- Urine for culture-empty sterile universal
container
·
Container
for blood collection
o Container
with Red top color
§
Are used for serological and biochemistry
investigations
§
Does not contain anticoagulant
o Container
with Purple/lavender top color
§
For hematological investigation such as full
blood picture, Platelets count, ESR and CD4 count
§
Contains anticoagulant EDTA
o Container
with Green top color
§
Contains anticoagulant-Heparin
§
For blood sugar
·
Container
for sputum collection
o Sputum
sample is collected in a plastic, wide mouthed leak proof container
o These
containers are supplied by NTLP (National TB and Leprosy programme)
·
Container
for collection of pus
o Sterile
swab stick in plastic tube
o Transport
media
Key Points
·
Container is a carrier of specimen
o Containers
used for collecting specimens includes
§
Wax carton
§
Universal bottle
§
Plastic container with cap
§
Bijou bottle
·
Significance of Containers includes
o
Differentiates tests
o
Stores specimens
o
Prevents infections
o
Identifies type of specimens
o
Helps to handle and transport the
specimens
o
Easier to write patient information
Evaluation
·
Define a container
·
List three significance of containers
·
List three containers used for
collecting specimens
References
·
Becker F.J and Silverton R.E (1985).
Introduction to Medical Laboratory Technology. Sixth Ed. Butterworth London
·
Carter J, Lema O (1994) Practical
laboratory manual for health centres in eastern Africa .
AMREF
·
Cheesbrough M (1987). Medical Laboratory
Manual for Tropical Countries. Volume 1 2nd Ed. ELBS Butterworth,
Heinemann Ltd, Oxford
·
Cheesbrough M (1998). District
Laboratory Practice in Tropical Countries. Part 1. Tropical Health Technology,
Gapson Papers Ltd, NOIDA, India
