When a biopsy specimen bottle shows contamination on the outside, what is the proper procedure?

When a biopsy specimen bottle shows contamination on the outside, the proper procedure is to clean and disinfect the outside before placing it in a plastic bag. This step is critical in maintaining the integrity of the specimen and preventing contamination from the external environment, which could potentially compromise the diagnostic results.

Disinfecting the exterior ensures that any harmful pathogens or contaminants present are eliminated before handling or transporting the specimen. Placing the cleaned and disinfected bottle in a plastic bag provides an additional layer of protection, ensuring that the specimen remains secure and uncontaminated during transport to the laboratory or during storage.

Other choices, such as immediately disposing of the bottle or rinsing it with water only, do not adequately address the need to maintain the specimen's integrity while managing the contamination. Transferring the specimen to a new bottle could also be a viable option but does not directly address the contamination on the original bottle's exterior, which must first be cleaned to ensure no contaminants are introduced into the new container.