All of the following are examples of appropriate specimens for the recovery of fungi except:

The recovery of fungi typically requires specimens that contain the organisms in viable or identifiable forms. Tissue biopsies, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and aspirates of exudate are all suitable specimens because they are likely to contain fungal elements directly related to infection or pathology.

Tissue biopsies allow for the examination of Fungal elements in a histological context and can be advantageous for detecting invasive fungal infections. CSF is useful for diagnosing central nervous system infections caused by fungi, where any fungal presence can indicate significant disease. Aspirates of exudate are also relevant because they can be taken from ulcers, abscesses, or other bodily fluids where fungi may reside.

In contrast, swabs may not be appropriate for fungal recovery because they often provide a limited sample size and can be easily contaminated. Swabs may also fail to capture the organisms adequately, especially if the fungal load in the sample is low. This makes them less reliable for detecting fungi compared to the other specimen types listed. Therefore, the choice that does not align with the standards for fungal recovery is the swab.