Specimen Requirements

Swab Specimens:
1.    Collect swab from one of the following sources:
    Throat
    Nasal
    Nasopharyngeal (NP)
2.    Place swab in sterile container with appropriate transport media - UTM, VTM or equivalent 
3.    Specimen Volume:  3 mL of transport media
 
Throat Swab Collection:
1.    Vigorously swab tonsillar areas - use tongue blade to depress tongue to prevent contamination of swab with saliva.
2.    Remove and place the swab into the tube containing 3 mL of acceptable transport medium
3.    Break swab at the indicated break line and cap the specimen collection tube tightly
 
Nasal Swab Collection:
1.    Insert a nasal swab 1 to 1.5 cm into a nostril
2.    Rotate the swab against the inside of the nostril for 3 seconds while applying pressure with a finger to the outside of the nostril
3.    Repeat on the other nostril with the same swab, using external pressure on the outside of the other nostril; (note: to avoid specimen contamination, do not touch the swab tip to anything other than the inside of the nostril)
4.    Remove and place the swab into the tube containing 3 mL of acceptable transport medium
5.    Break swab at the indicated break line and cap the specimen collection tube tightly
 
Nasopharyngeal Swab Collection:
1.    Insert a nasopharyngeal swab into either nostril, passing it into the posterior nasopharynx
2.    Rotate swab by firmly brushing against the nasopharynx several times
3.    Remove and place the swab into the tube containing 3 mL of acceptable transport medium
4.    Break swab at the indicated break line and cap the specimen collection tube tightly
 
Urine Specimens:
1.    Collect 50 mL random urine (10 mL urine minimum) in sterile urine container 
2.    Have patient void directly into container, collecting from the first part of urine stream if possible
3.    First-morning voided urine specimen is preferred, however any urine collection is acceptable.