Specimen Requirements

Unpreserved specimen must arrive in laboratory within 60 minutes of collection.
 

Nasopharyngeal or Nasal Swab

1. Collect specimen using nasopharyngeal flocked swab. Polyester, rayon, cotton swab or foam is also acceptable. 
2. Insert swab through nostril into posterior nasopharynx, and rotate swab several times to collect a mucosal epithelial specimen.
3. Place swab in transport tube and send to laboratory immediately.
4. Label specimen with patient’s name, date of birth or hospital medical record number, date, specimen source, time of collection, and collector’s initials.
5. Send specimen immediately. If there is a delay in transport of >60 minutes, send specimen in transport media refrigerated and a new method of testing will ordered [LABRSVN].