Specimen Requirements

Throat swab: Culturette

Culturette II Swabs

Specimen should be collected prior to antimicrobial therapy.
If age appropriate, the patient is asked to open mouth widely and phonate an “ah.” The tongue is gently depressed with a tongue blade and the swabs are guided above the tongue into the posterior pharynx. The mucosa behind the uvula and between the tonsillar pillars is swabbed with “culturette” swabs with a back and forth motion, paying special attention to areas of redness and pus production.  The swabs are then placed back into the “culturette” tube for transport.