CONTAINERS FOR SPECIMENS

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 2^nd 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