Protected Brush Specimen Culture-Provincial
Discipline
Microbiology
Overview
Description
- Protected brush specimen culture is used to isolate potential respiratory pathogens and can be useful in the diagnosis of respiratory tract infection.
Ordering Recommendations
- Specimens may be collected from patients with signs and symptoms of respiratory tract infection.
Specimen Information
Specimen types accepted
- Protected Brush Specimen
Specimen collection container
- Sterile Screw Capped Container
Collection procedure
- During bronchoscopy, use protected brush to directly sample respiratory tract. Place protected brush-catheter into sterile screw-capped container.
Required volume
- 1 protected brush-catheter in a sterile screw capped container
Transport and stability
Transport at room temperature, as soon as possible. If delay is anticipated, keep specimen at 4°C.
Testing Information
Relevant clinical history
- Underlying diagnosis and history of past/current antimicrobial therapy
Performance
Methodology
- Gram stain and quantitative culture for aerobic bacteria and yeast is performed routinely.
Days/times performed
- Specimens will be cultured at the nearest microbiology laboratory.
Maximum laboratory time
Cultures are incubated for 48 hours.
Reports of no growth are sent at 24 and 48 hours, if applicable.
Identification and susceptibility results are usually available 24 – 48 hours after an organism is isolated.
Specimen retention time
- Specimens retained for 7 days after culturing.
Other information
NOTE: Protected Brush Specimens have the greatest yield isolating pathogens, compared to other invasively-collected respiratory specimens (i.e. bronchial wash, bronchoalveolar lavage).
Last Updated: November 14, 2025