Specimen Requirements

Container Type: APTIMA Unisex Swab Specimen Collection Kit (white label), APTIMA Urine Specimen Collection Kit (yellow label), APTIMA Multitest Swab Collection Kit (orange label)  or APTIMA Specimen Transfer Kit forThinPrep/Pap Test (green label), sterile container for Urine sample
Specimen Type: See below.
Preferred Volume: 20 mL; 1 mL from ThinPrep Pap Test to ThinPrep transfer vial.
Emergency Minimum: Volume 2 mL for urine, not to exceed 30 mL
Collection Procedure: Female endocervical or male urethral.  Clinician collected vaginal swab or patient collected vaginal swab at physician's office.Throat or rectal swab collected with the APTIMA Multitest Swab Collection Kit (orange label) 

Urine, first AM void, not clean catch collected in the APTIMA Urine Specimen Transport Tube. Male urethral swab should be collected at least 1 hour after urination. When filling the Urine specimen collection kit, urine levels must be between the two black lines indicated on the side of the vial.

ThinPrep/Pap Test vial may be used alternatively for endocervical collections done at the same time as a Pap Smear. Send the ThinPrep vial to Central Oregon Pathology with Pap form and separate lab order.

Specimen Processing: Transport all samples collected in the kits at room temperature or refrigerate. Urine samples not collected in these kits must be refrigerated and received within 24 hours of collection.
Required: Patient Info: Source
Stability: Room Temp: Swabs-2 months, Urine in media-1 month, Urine not in media is not stable. Refrigerated: Swabs-2 months, Urine in media-1 month, Urine not in media-24 hours. Frozen: (-20 øC) Swabs-3 months, Urine in media-3 months.
Unacceptable Condition: Endocervical, urethral or rectal swabs not collected with the Aptima Swab. Samples received containing NO swab. Urine specimens with preservatives; catherized urine samples.  GENPROBE PACE 2 tubes are not acceptable.