Types of specimens for diagnosis of invasive mycoses7–9
| Pus (from abscesses or sinus tracts) | Aseptically aspirated with a syringe and needle. If a swab must be used (not recommended), material should be taken from as deep as possible |
| Ulcerated lesions | Biopsied or excised or swabbed (less satisfactory) |
| Mucous membranes and vaginal specimens | Scrapings for oral lesions or previously moistened (with sterile water or saline) swabs. Swabs for vaginal material |
| Sputum | Fresh, ideally collected in the early morning. Result of a deep cough (not saliva) or induced by aerosol, ideally after rinsing the mouth and any dentures. 5–10 ml in a sterile container |
| Other respiratory specimens (bronchoalveolar lavages (BAL), bronchial brushings and washings tracheal aspirates, bronchial secretions) | Aseptically collected and sent immediately to the laboratory |
| Blood | Venous or arterial blood (when venous blood cultures are unsuccessful). 5–10 ml (accordingly to the instructions on the bottle) collected into aerobic blood cultures bottles. 2–3 sets should be taken |
| Bone marrow | 3–5 ml in a sterile container with heparin 1:1000 or EDTA |
| CSF | 3–5 ml (less is acceptable for children and neonates) in a sterile container |
| Eye | Vitreous humour (ideally 0.5 ml, less when undiluted). Corneal scrapings are inoculated directly onto appropriate culture media. Tears and fluids can be collected with a loop or a sterile plastic pipette but will only be of value in keratitis |
| Ear | Scrapings of material from the ear canal. Swabs can be used |
| Body fluids (pleural, abdominal, synovial, peritoneal dialysate) | Aspirated or drained aseptically into sterile containers (with a sample for microscopy containing heparin 1: 1000 or EDTA in the case of blood staining) or inoculated into aerobic blood culture bottles |
| Urine | Clean midstream sample (better early in the morning), catheter specimen or suprapubic (mostly in infants) aspirate. 25–30 ml sent without delay to the laboratory |
| Tissue | Aseptically collected, from the centre and the edge of lesions. Sent to the laboratory fresh, in sterile saline (not immersed in formalin) to prevent dessication |
All samples should be collected and transported in sterile containers.