[Microbiological specimen for anaerobic assay (author's transl)].

The most important events of the bacteriological study of the anaerobic infections are the choose of specimen, how to collect and carry it. These preliminary steps may condition the success of each further manipulation. A correct methodology requires some general rules: 1. to prepare anaerobic assay only whether the clinical data are indicative: so the laboratory could give better performances for the truly interesting cases; 2. to prevent, for what it is possible, contacts between 02 and the sample; to avoid contamination with anaerobic bacteria of the endogen flora present on human mucosa; 3. the sample must be assayed within 30--45 min after having been collected. After this time many bacterial cells are lost and the sample does not represent anymore microbiology of the septic focus. Indications about samples available for anaerobic assay, are given. It is emphasized how much preferable is a syringe collecting, while swab or biopsy present some technical difficulties and cause loss of the exigent bacteria. Some indication is at last given about the transport of specimen in the case the patient is not near the laboratory.