Specimen Requirements

* Specimen must arrive within 4 hours if transported at room temperature (18-30° C)

*  Specimen may be held for up to 3 days if transported and stored at refrigerator temperature (2-8° C)

Specimen Type: Nasopharyngeal swab placed in Viral Transport Media (VTM)

Collection Instructions:

Nasopharyngeal swab

1. Obtain BD Universal Viral Transport Collection Kit, 3ml.

2. Aseptically remove cap from vial.

3. Using the provided flexible, mini-tipped, flocked swab, insert swab into one nostril.

4. Rotate swab over surface of posterior nasopharynx.

5. Withdraw swab from collection site; insert swab into VTM transport tube.

6. Repeating procedure for the second nostril will deliver optimum combined sample.

7. Break swab shaft by bending it against the vial wall evenly at the pre-scored line.

8. Replace cap on vial and close tightly.

9. Forward promptly at room temperature.

10. Send specimen refrigerated if transport storage is > 4 hrs.