LABORATORY

• The test takes place on an empty stomach (the last meal is best eaten around 6:00 PM the previous day)
• Before the test, you can drink a small amount of water
• The day before the test, you should not drink alcohol and you should avoid any physical strain.

• General tests require mid-stream (the first part of urine is directed to the toilet, and the next one to a special container) morning urine (the first after a night’s sleep)
• You should deposit your urine to a completely clean (sterile) container (available at every pharmacy) and sign it with your first and last name, and date of birth
• The specimen should include approx. 10 ml of urine.
• Collected urine should be delivered as soon as possible

WOMEN

• Arrange for a sterile container
• Wash your hands with running soapy water and dry with a disposable towel
• Do not touch the inside walls of the container and the lid
• Put the lid upside down and hold the container by the outside walls
• With one hand, expose the major labia to reveal the bladder outlet (the urethra)
• Wipe the urethra around with a sterile swab or paper towel
• First urinate a small amount into the toilet bowl
• Pass the second part of urine without interrupting the stream directly into the container, up to 1/3 of its height

MEN

• Arrange for a sterile container
• Wash your hands with running soapy water and dry with a disposable towel
• Do not touch the inside walls of the container and the lid
• Put the lid upside down and hold the container by the outside walls
• Pull back the foreskin to expose the bladder outlet (the urethra)
• Wipe the urethra around with a sterile swab or paper towel
• First urinate a small amount into the toilet bowl
• Pass the second part of urine without interrupting the stream directly into the container, up to 1/3 of its height
• Immediately after filling the container, close it and deliver it to the laboratory as soon as possible – keep it in the fridge until transport

• We deposit a small sample of faeces to a special container (available at every pharmacy). We use the paddle attached to the container
• Deposited material should come from different areas of the same sample
• Faeces should not come into contact with water, urine or detergents
• For microbiological and mycological tests, use sterile containers (available at every pharmacy) and deliver the specimen in the shortest possible time, i.e. about an hour from collection

• The best time to do a cytological test is between 10 and 20 days of your menstrual cycle. It can be done almost every day except menstruation, but not earlier than 2 days after the last day of menstruation and not later than 2 days before the beginning of menstruation
• The patient should refrain from sexual intercourse at least 24 hours before the examination
• Do not use irrigation or insert tampons prior to cytological examination

Cervical-vaginal swab:

• Sexual intercourse should be abandoned and hygiene and care of the genital area should be limited for 24 hours before collection.
• Do not use swab tests while on your period
• Do not use vaginal drugs and ointments 48 hours before the test
• There should be a 7-day break after treatment with antimicrobials
• One day should remain after a gynaecological examination or ultrasound examination

Urethral swab:

• It is best to take the specimen in the morning, at night, before urinating, or at least 3 hours after the last urination

Urethral swab in men:

• The patient should not urinate for at least an hour before collection

WOMEN: cervical smear, vaginal smear:

• Sexual intercourse should be abandoned and hygiene and care of the genital area should be limited for 24 hours before collection.
• Do not use swab tests while on your period
• Do not use vaginal drugs and ointments 48 hours before the test
• There should be a 7-day break after treatment with antimicrobials
• One day should remain after a gynaecological examination or ultrasound examination

MEN: Urogenital swab:

• You should keep a 24-hour interval in ejaculation, stretch the foreskin over the glans, which should be left without washing for a period of at least 12 hours, you should refrain from urinating for at least 2 hours

• Do not eat, drink liquids, smoke cigarettes, chew gum, brush your teeth for at least an hour before taking the swab. It is recommended to take the swab on empty stomach

• The abstinence time before examination should be 2-7 days. Longer or shorter time may affect the results of the test
• Semen is handed over into a special container by masturbation (urine container – to be purchased at the pharmacy)
• Deposit all your semen into sterile container
• The sample should be returned to the laboratory within an hour of donation
• The semen should be transported at a temperature of approx. 37-38 C (approximately body temperature)
• The result may be affected by: fatigue, recent illness with fever, alcohol consumption and too long sexual abstinence
• You should wait about 2 weeks after antibiotic treatment

• Swabs should be taken at the beginning of the infection (when symptoms appear), without the use of antibiotics
• A swab should be taken in the morning, on empty stomach, after rinsing the mouth with boiled water
• Do not brush your teeth before collection
• A nasal swab can be taken at any time of the day

• The specimen should be taken at the beginning of the infection. Avoid taking swabs during antibiotic therapy
• Do not use antimicrobial ointments, disinfectant drops and chemotherapeutic agents 4 hours before collection.
• Do not rinse, flush with disinfectant lotions, or apply makeup

• It is best to take a swab in the morning
• The abstinence time before examination should be 3 days
• Antibacterial or antifungal agents must not be used before collection
• Do not rinse, wash with disinfectant fluids, or use ointments on foreskin
• You must not urinate at least 2-3 hours before collection

• Wash your hands with soap and water and use a disposable towel
• Completely pull back the foreskin and wash around the urethra, rinse thoroughly and dry with a sterile swab
• With the foreskin pulled back entirely, fully empty the bladder
• The material is collected by a doctor through a prostate massage via the rectum

• It is best to take a swab in the morning
• Clean the genital area thoroughly without using soap and intimate hygiene gels
• The abstinence time before examination should be 2 days
• You must not urinate 2-3 hours before taking the swab

• It is best to report for examination in case of fresh skin lesions
• Do not use antimicrobial ointments, disinfectant drops or chemotherapeutic agents 4 hours before taking the swab.
• Changes prior to testing should not be rinsed, washed with disinfectant fluids, and makeup must not be applied
• The test should not be performed during systemic antibiotic therapy

• You should report at the beginning of the infection for collection of specimen
• Specimen should be taken before starting treatment, from the changes that appeared first
• Do not use ointments, creams or disinfectants before collection. Do not use nail polish or acetone nail polish remover (at least 3-4 days before collection)
• Shampoos with disinfectants and antifungal agents must not be used
• Before collection, it is necessary to properly wash feet, hands, areas between the fingers and the skin in the affected area with soap and water, and dry
• Specimen can only be collected by a properly trained person

• Urine for microbiological examination should be donated in the morning
• The specimen must be taken before starting antibiotic therapy
• Urine should be placed in a sterile container (available at every pharmacy), after washing hands and cleaning around the perineum and urethra
• Urine should be taken from the middle stream (the first part of urine should be deposited to the toilet, the second directly into the container, up to 1/3 of its height)
• The container should be described by first and last name, and date of birth
• The sample should be handed over as soon as possible after collection
• Urine should be refrigerated (2-8*C) for a maximum of 4 hours until transport

• Before collection, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water and wipe with a disposable towel
• Pull back the foreskin completely, wash thoroughly and clean with soap and water around the urethra, rinse thoroughly and dry with a sterile gauze swab
• With the foreskin retracted, fully empty the bladder
• Then, deposit the semen into a sterile container (available at every pharmacy) without touching the inside of the container
• The container should be immediately closed and labelled with your last name
• The container should be delivered as soon as possible to the outpatient clinic (up to 2 hours after collection). Store at room temperature

• The specimen should be expectorated on the day of the test, in the morning, on an empty stomach
• Before collecting sputum, brush your teeth thoroughly, and rinse your mouth with boiled water several times
• Holding the container by its base (without touching the periphery and the inside), expel portions of sputum
• The container should be carefully closed and delivered to the clinic as soon as possible. If this is not possible, cool the material to 4*C and transport it in a refrigerated container