1. Collect the specimen from the affected area using a culture swab or nasopharyngeal wire handled swab.
2. Place the specimen in a culture collection and transport tube.
3. Label the tube with the patient's full name, date of birth, identification number, date and time of collection, initials of the person collecting the specimen, and the specimen source.
4. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.
5. The specimen source is required on the request form for processing.
6. Indicate on the request form if this is a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) screen.

87070 - Culture Respiratory (EAP 30060800)
87077 - Aerobic identification (if appropriate)
87184 - Susceptibility studies, disk method (if appropriate)
87186 - Susceptibility studies, microdilution or agar dilution (if appropriate)