Prosthetic device samples will be inoculated into blood culture bottles and incubated for 10 days.
Further testing can include fungal, Nocardia and Mycobacterial culture. Discuss with Microbiology medical staff if required.
Sample type
- Revision arthroplasty
- Metalware related
- Orthopaedic device related
- Prosthetic joint fluid or biopsy
- Bone biopsy
Surface or sinus swabs are generally not useful and will not be processed if received with five or more tissue samples
Specimen requirements
Bone, tissue and fluids are preferable and should be taken before starting antimicrobial therapy
A maximum of five samples per patient are processed, unless they are all from different sites, in which case they will all be processed
Use separate sterile instruments for each sample
Send in a sterile universal container clearly labelled with the site for each sample
Minimum volume
N/A
Frequency of test
Daily
Turnaround time
11 days
What to request on EPR
Prosthetic / metal work MCS
