Specimen Requirements

Container Type: Nasopharyngeal or Nasal swab in Viral Transport Media
Specimen Type: Nasopharyngeal or Nasal swab
Collection Procedure: Insert swab into the nasopharynx or nares. Rotate swab in each nasopharynx or nares five times clockwise and counter clockwise..
Specimen Processing: Immediately place swab in viral transport media
Store and Transport Ambient (room temperature), refrigerated, or frozen (-80 øC) (Specimen can undergo one freeze/thaw cycle)
Required Patient Info: Specimen source
Stability: Room Temp 2 days Refrigerated 5 days Frozen (-20 øC) (Specimen can undergo one freeze/thaw cycle)
Unacceptable Condition: Samples that have been exposed to excessive heat. Swabs with wire shafts and transport media that is not for viruses. Saline is no longer a valid media and will be rejected.