Body Fluid Culture – Specimen Collection Update

Effective June 1, 2026, Corewell Health Microbiology Laboratory in Southeast Michigan is updating specimen collection criteria for body fluid specimens. Microbiology will no longer accept red top vacutainer tubes as a collection device for body fluids (i.e. synovial fluid, pleural fluid, peritoneal fluid, etc). Collection criteria information has been updated in Corewell’s Lab Test Directory to reflect this change. Test order for body fluid cultures is LAB2111016 (aerobic culture) and commonly accompanied by LAB233 (anaerobic culture).

Acceptable collection devices:

1. Sterile cups
2. Sterile conicals
3. Syringes with needle removed, capped

Rejection criteria:

1. Specimens received in non-sterile or leaking containers
2. Specimens received beyond 24 hours from collection
3. Specimens received in other non-approved specimen containers such as clot activator tubes, EDTA tubes, or E-Swabs.

Stability for body fluids in sterile containers is 24 hours.

Please note that we will continue to accept serum submitted for Cryptococcal antigen testing in red top serum vacutainer tubes.