Collect in a plain sterile universal container with no preservative added.

Consider what other samples are required when sampling to send to other disciplines e.g. pathology, mycology, mycobacteriology.

Useful: in patients where bacterial tissue infection is suspected.  If this sample is debrided from an open wound in an outpatient setting e.g. diabetic foot clinic, results may reflect colonising flora, as oppose to a deeper sample taken under sterile conditions at biopsy or in theatre which hasn't been open to skin flora.