Peel back the label from the agar gel. With the biopsy pick, remove the specimen from the biopsy forceps and push it into the gel. Make certain the tissue is completely immersed so it will have maximum contact with the gel. Re-seal by pressing the label back in place.
Handling:
Record on the label the name of patient, and date and time specimen was inserted into gel.
Stability:
24 hours ambient. Unstable frozen.
Transport:
Ambient.
Comments:
Antimicrobials, proton pump inhibitors and bismuth preparations are known to suppress H. pylori. Ingestion of these compounds in the two week period to H. pylori testing may give a false negative result.
Rejection Criteria:
Transport delayed beyond 24 hours; dehydrated agar gel; frozen specimen.