Specimen Requirements

Viral transport kits (when necessary) are available from the laboratory.

 

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

 

Autopsy and Biopsy

Acceptable Specimens:

Brain, heart, lung, lymph node, or kidney

1. Collect fresh tissue and placed in separate, labeled, screw-capped, sterile container(s).

2. Submit tissue with 1 mL to 2 mL of viral transport media.

3. Label container(s) with patient’s name (first and last), date of birth, date and actual time of collection, collector’s initials, and type of specimen.

4. Send specimen refrigerated. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

Note:  Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

 

Cerebrospinal Fluid

1. Submit 2 mL (minimum volume:  1 mL) of spinal fluid in a screw-capped, sterile container.

2. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date of birth, date and actual time of collection, collector’s initials, and type of specimen.

3. Send specimen refrigerated. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

Note:  Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

 

Cervical Swab
1. Clean cervix of mucus with a sterile swab and discard.

2. Insert second swab about 1/4 inch into cervical canal and rotate. If any lesions are present, sample these areas well.

3. Place swab into vial of transport medium, breaking swab shaft at score line, as necessary to replace cap on tube.

4. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date of birth, date and actual time of collection, collector’s initials, and type of specimen.

5. Send specimen refrigerated. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

Note:  Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

 

Eye

Conjunctiva

1. Do not use exudates for this specimen type.

2. Cleanse skin around eye with mild antiseptic.

3. Gently remove makeup and ointment with sterile cotton and saline.

4. Collect specimen by swabbing using a culture transport swab.

5. Pass moistened swab 2 times over lower conjunctiva avoiding eyelid border and lashes.

6. Swab should be broken or cut into a tube of viral transport medium.

7. Label tube with patient’s name (first and last), date of birth, date and actual time of collection, collector’s initials, and type of specimen.

8. Send specimen refrigerated. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

Note:  Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

 

Cornea

Note:  Do not submit corneal scraping or anterior chamber fluid on a swab.

 

1. Collect a corneal specimen with a mini-tip culture swab moistened with sterile saline and place in tube of viral transport medium (M4).

2. Additional swabs must be collected if bacterial and/or fungus cultures are requested.   

3. Label tube with patient’s name (first and last), date of birth, date and actual time of collection, collector’s initials, and type of specimen.

4. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature only. Do not refrigerate.

 

Nasal

1. Using a swab moistened with saline, insert tip about 3/4 of an inch into nares, gently rotating in a circular fashion.

2. Swab should be broken or cut into a tube of viral transport medium.

3. Label tube with patient’s name (first and last), date of birth, date and actual time of collection, collector’s initials, and type of specimen.

4. Send specimen refrigerated. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

Note:  Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

 

Nasopharyngeal

1. Using a steel, wire, mini-tip applicator, gently passing it through nose to posterior nasopharynx. Leave in place for a few seconds, and then remove.

2. Swab should be broken or cut into a tube of viral transport medium.

3. Label tube with patient’s name (first and last), date of birth, date and actual time of collection, collector’s initials, and type of specimen.

4. Send specimen refrigerated. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

Note:  Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

 

Rectal Swab
1. Using a dry swab, insert 1 to 2 inches past anal sphincter, rotate swab to sample anal crypts and remove.

2. Swab should be broken or cut into a tube of viral transport medium.

3. Label tube with patient’s name (first and last), date of birth, date and actual time of collection, collector’s initials, and type of specimen.

4. Send specimen refrigerated. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

Note:  Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

 

Stool

1. Collect 1 g to 4 g of stool in a small, leak-proof container. No transport medium should be added.

2. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date of birth, date and actual time of collection, collector’s initials, and type of specimen.

3. Send specimen refrigerated. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

Note:  Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

 

Throat
1. Using a dry cotton swab, rub back of throat and any area of inflammation, ulceration, or exudation.

2. Swab should be broken or cut into a tube of viral transport medium.

3. Label tube with patient’s name (first and last), date of birth, date and actual time of collection, collector’s initials, and type of specimen.

4. Send specimen refrigerated. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

Note:  Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

 

Urine

1. 5 mL (minimum volume:  3 mL) of urine in a screw-capped, sterile container.

2. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date of birth, date and actual time of collection, collector’s initials, and type of specimen.

3. Send specimen refrigerated. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

Note:  1. Urine specimens are most useful for isolation of cytomegalovirus in newborns. Best recovery rates occur if specimen is held at 2° C to 8° C and processed within a few hours after collection.

2. Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

 

Vesicle Fluid/Skin Scraping
Aspirate

1. Vesicle fluid and cellular material from base of lesion is best collected during the first 3 days of eruption when the recovery rate is highest.

2. Aspirate fluid using a 26- or 27-gauge needle attached to a tuberculin syringe or with a capillary pipette.

3. Place fluid (rinse syringe or pipette) in a tube of viral transport medium.

4. Label tube with patient’s name (first and last), date of birth, date and actual time of collection, collector’s initials, and type of specimen.

5. Send specimen refrigerated. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

Note:  Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

 

Swab

1. Open lesion should be swabbed to obtain both fluid and cells from lesion base.

2. Swab should be broken or cut into a tube of viral transport medium.

3. Label tube with patient’s name (first and last), date of birth, date and actual time of collection, collector’s initials, and type of specimen.

4. Send specimen refrigerated. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

Note:  Specimen source is required on request form for processing.