Procedures for sample collection, transport, and processing

Abstract

This chapter describes the procedures for sample collection, transport, and processing. Great care must be taken to make sure that the quality of samples for microbiological investigations are as good as possible. Indeed, collecting the sample properly is the single most important stage of the whole process of microbiological examination. If the way the sample is collected is not correct, contaminating organisms may be introduced that will confuse the result, and it is always possible that a poorly taken sample may not have actually collected anything from the site of infection. The chapter then looks at the health and safety risks of collecting, transporting, and processing microbiology samples. It also outlines the legislation covering the collection and transport of microbiological samples, the basic microbiological sample processing methods, and the methods of inoculation of culture media.