wet mount sample prep

[lalamb]

Hi all -

How do you prepare your wet mount specimens?

Have seen

1. adding 1-2 drops saline to the swab (ancient policies and the Dr's UpToDate ref source)- reason being you don't want to dilute the sample?
2. and 0.5 -1 ml of saline ( other hosp's in our organization) - reason being you don't want the cotton tip to dry out. 

I also think that if you add more liquid, you get more uniform distribution of your sample.

 

Have asked our micro dept, but have heard nothing yet.

[SMILLER]

Our tubes come up with the swab in about 1/2 ml saline.

Scott

[lalamb]

 Thanks. Well, the latest from our microbiology department is a book referencing Ames media as a transport media. So, still looking for a reference source that sites Saline ( even though  it's been used for ages and I'm sure is fine )

[Auntie-D]

Not in Micro any more but we used to add 2ml, shake and then centrifuge the liquid. We would then remove the supernatant and use the remaining pellet.