Specimen Required

**Cultures should be collected at 35 to 37 weeks' gestation by the health care provider**

Lower vaginal/rectal swab collection:

1)  Swab the lower vagina, followed by the rectum using the same swab or two different swabs.

     -A speculum should not be used for this culture collection

2)  Place both swabs together into the same transport container.

3)  Be sure to make note if patient is Penicillin allergic either on the specimen or the test requisition

-Label specimen with patient name (first and last) or other unique identifier, patient hospital
identification number,  date and time of collection, collector initials, and test(s) being
ordered.
-Promptly forward specimen to laboratory at ambient temperature.