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),  APTIMA Specimen Transfer Kit forThinPrep/Pap Test (green label), sterile container for Urine sample
Specimen Type: See below
Preferred Volume: See below
Emergency Minimum Volume: 2 mL for urine, not to exceed 30 mL
Collection Procedure: Female endocervical specimen: collect with the APTIMA Unisex swab collection kit.   Female/male Urine Specimen: First void, not clean catch collected in the APTIMA Urine Specimen Transport Tube or sterile container. Male urethral swab: collect with the APTIMA Unisex swab collection kit

Store and Transport Transport all samples collected in the kits ambient (room temperature), or refrigerated. Urine samples not collected in these kits must be refrigerated and received within 24 hours of collection. When filling the Urine specimen collection kit, urine levels must be between the two black lines indicated on the side of the vial.

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 and urethral swabs not collected with the Aptima Swab. Specimens collected using the Gen-Probe PACE 2 tubes are not acceptable. Samples received containing NO swab. Specimens from eye, respiratory, or rectal swabs will have a disclaimer put on them as unvalidated souces.
Alternate Specimens: ThinPrep liquid pap also acceptable ONLY if special Aptima aliquot is made prior to other testing.