Specimen Requirements

Acceptable Specimens:
Cutaneous and mucocutaneous lesions from dermal, genital, ocular or oral sites.

Unacceptable Specimens:
Spinal fluid

Note:   For testing on spinal fluid, see #80575 “Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) by Rapid PCR.”

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Dermal
Lesion
1. Premoisten swab from viral culture transport with sterile saline.

2. Collect cells from base of lesion.
3. Replace swab into viral culture transport tube.
4. Send specimen refrigerated. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.
Note:  Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

Vesicle fluid
1. Aspirate fluid from vesicle with tuberculin (TB) syringe.
2. Express fluid into viral culture transport tube.
3. Send specimen refrigerated. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.
Note:  Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

Genital
Cervix
1. Wipe endocervix with large swab to remove excess mucus. Dispose of swab. An additional large swab is included in collection kit for this purpose.
2. Insert large swab into endocervical canal until most of tip is not visible. Rotate swab for 5 to 10 seconds inside endocervical canal.
3. Withdraw swab without touching any vaginal surfaces.
4. Replace swab into viral culture transport tube.
5. Send specimen refrigerated. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.
Note:  Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

Urethra
1. Insert small swab 2 cm to 4 cm into urethra, rotate, and withdraw specimen.
2. Replace swab into viral culture transport tube.
3. Send specimen refrigerated. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.
Note:  1. Patient should be instructed not to urinate for at least 1 hour prior to sampling.
2. Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

Ocular
1. Cleanse skin around eye with mild antiseptic.

2. Gently remove makeup and ointment with sterile cotton and saline.

3. Collect specimen using 1 aerobic bacterial transport swab.

4. Pass moistened swab 2 times over lower conjunctiva. Avoid eyelid border and lashes. (Culture these separately in a similar fashion, if indicated.)
5. Return swab to plastic sleeve.
6. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.
Note:  Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

Throat
1. Pass viral culture transport swab over each tonsillar area and posterior pharynx.
2. Replace swab into viral culture transport tube.
3. Send specimen refrigerated. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.
Note:  Specimen source is required on request form for processing.