Specimen Requirements

Submit only one of the following specimens:

Label specimen with at least 2 patient identifiers (usually name and date of birth)

Specimen Type: Blood
Container/Tube: Green top (Sodium Heparin)
Volume: 7 mL adults; 3 mL child

Minimum volume: 2 mL
Collection Instructions: Keep at room temperature, transport to laboratory immediately

Specimen Type: Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, Sputum

Container/Tube: Sterile collection container

Specimen Type:  Nasopharyngeal (NP) swab

Container/Tube: 3-mL UTM/Swab set (UTM medium with Regular Flocked Swab)

Collection Instructions: 

(Link) Nasopharyngeal Collection

• Tilt the head of the patient, gently insert the swab through one of the nostrils and into the nasal passage.
• Rotate the swab tip several times across the mucosal surface.
• Remove the swab and insert into the dry tube.
• Push the swab into the tube and break the plastic shaft swab at the break line.
• Replace cap and screw on tightly. Ensure cap is secured! 
• Label specimen with at least 2 patient identifiers (usually name and date of birth)
• Place each specimen in the priority transport bag that came with the collection kit
• Send to lab immediately 
• Off site transportation temperature: Refrigerated specimen

Specimen Type: Throat swab, Eye swab
Container/Tube: 3-mL UTM/Swab set (UTM medium with Regular Flocked Swab)
Collection Instructions: Rotate the swab tip several times across the mucosal surface. Remove the swab and insert into the red top tube of the viral transport medium (UTM) immediately. Push the swab into the tube and break the plastic swab shaft at the break line. Replace cap and screw on tightly. Transport to lab immediately, refrigerate or on ice.

Specimen Type: Amniotic fluid, Breast Milk, Body Fluid (indicate type/source), Saliva, Stool, or Urine (clean catch specimen)
Container/Tube: Screw cap, sterile container

Minimum Volume: 1 mL
Collection Instructions: 

• List containers separately.
• Replace cap and screw on tightly.
• Transport to lab immediately.
• Urine collected in a gray top tube w/boric acid is an unacceptable specimen
• Detailed Instructions (link): Urine Collection Guide for Staff

Specimen Type: Tissue

Container/Tube: Sterile Container with screw-on lid. Viral Transport Media (UTM) may be used if immediate transport is not available.