Specimen Collection

Standard Precautions (Universal Precautions)

Since a medical history and examination cannot identify all patients with blood-borne infectious agents, Standard Precautions should be consistently used for all patients. The blood and body fluids of every patient must be considered to be potentially infectious.

1. Body fluids to which Standard Precautions apply: blood, tissue, and other body fluids containing visible blood; semen and vaginal secretions; cerebrospinal fluid; synovial fluid; pleural, pericardial or peritoneal fluid and amniotic fluid.

2. Fluids to which Standard Precautions do not apply, unless they contain visible blood: feces, nasal secretions, sputum, sweat, tears, urine, saliva, vomitus, and breast milk.

CLS Collection Services

Calgary Laboratory Services specimen collection services are available in the following locations:

CLS staff in Calgary's five hospitals (ACH, FMC, PLC, RGH and SHC) collect specimens from hospital inpatients and outpatients.
CLS Community Services staff collect specimens at Patient Service Centres and Health Centres.
CLS Mobile Collection Service is available to patients who meet Mobile Collection Service criteria.

Alphabetical Test Directory

For information about test specific specimen collection requirements click here.