Specimen Requirements

NOTE: Studies have shown that the optimal specimen for men is urine and for women is vaginal swab. 

Inpatient and ED:

Urine: Collected in Xpert Urine Specimen Collection Kit

Endocervical, Vaginal, Rectal, and Pharyngeal Swabs: Collected in Xpert Swab Specimen Collection Kit

 

OUTPATIENT:

GENITAL

Specimen type: Endocervical or vaginal

Container/tube: Collected in Cobas PCR Media Dual Swab Sample Kit

Specimen volume: One Swab

Collection instructions:

1. Insert specimjen collection swab into the endocervical canal or vagina.

2. Gently rotate the swab for 30 seconds in the endocervical canal or vagina.

3. Withdraw swab carefully.

4. Remove cap from the PCR media tube.

5. Lower the swab into the tube until the visible dark line on the swab shaft is lined up with the tube rim.  The tip of the swab should be just above the liquid in the tube.

6. Carefully lean the swab against the tube rim to break the swab shaft at the dark line.  Discard the tip portion of the swab. 

7. Tightly close the Cobas PCR media tube.

8. Label tube with the patient's name (first and last), date and time of collection and type of specimen.

 

URINE

Specimen type: Urine 

Container/Tube: Sterile urine container

Alternative Container/Tube: BD grey-top urine transport tube

Specimen Minimum Volume: 30 mL

Sample Volume: 30mL of first-catch urine.  This should not be a clean voided sample (CVS).

Collection Instructions:

1. Patient should not have urinated for at least 1 hour prior to specimen collection.

2. Patient should provide a first-catch urine (10-50mL of initial stream urine) into the collection cup.  Collection of larger volumes of urine may reduce test sensitivity. 

3. Female patients should not clean the labial area prior to providing a specimen.

4. Label with patient's name and date/time of collection.

5. Specimen needs to arrive at MBMC within 24 hours of collection.

Stability:

Sterile container - up to 24 hour refrigerated or room temperature

Gray top perserved urine - up to 72 hour refrigerated

 

THIN PREP

Specimen type: Cervical/Vaginal Thin prep vial

Container/Tube: Thin prep vial with preservCyt solution

Sample volume: 1mL

Collection Instructions: Refer to pap smear collection instructions

 

RECTAL/ANAL

Specimen Type: Rectal/anal

Container/Tube: Collected in Cobas PCR Media Dual Swab Sample Kit

Specimen Volume: Swab

Collection Instructions:

1. Specimens must be collected using Cobas PCR Media Dual Swab Sample Kit.

2. Insert swab into rectum about 3 to 5 cm past anal margin and gently rotate swab for 10 seconds.

3. Place collection swab in transport tube provided in collection kit. Snap off swab at score line so swab fits into closed tube.

4. Cap tube securely, and label tube with patient's entire name and collection date and time.

 

ORAL

Specimen Type: Oropharynx/pharynx/throat

Container/Tube: Collected in Cobas PCR Media Dual Swab Sample Kit

Specimen Volume: Swab

Collection Instructions:

1. Specimens must be collected using the Cobas PCR Media Dual Swab Sample Kit.

2. Swab site using Cobas PCR Media Dual Swab Sample Kit (woven swab).

3. Place collection swab in transport tube provided in collection kit. Snap off swab at score line so swab fits into closed tube.

4. Cap tube securely, and label tube with patient's entire name and collection date and time.

 

 

OCULAR

Specimen Type: Ocular (corneal/conjunctiva)

Container/Tube: Aptima Multitest Swab or Aptima Unisex Swab

Specimen Volume: Swab

Collection Instructions:

1. Swab site using Aptima Multitest Swab or Aptima Unisex Swab. Specimens must be collected using either one of these Aptima swabs.

Note: The white swab provided within the collection kit is a cleaning swab and should not be used for collection. Discard the white cleaning swab.

2. Place collection swab in transport tube provided with the collection kit. Snap off swab at score line so swab fits into closed tube.

3. Cap tube securely and label tube with patient's entire name and collection date and time.

4. MBMC will forward to Mayo Medical Laboratory for testing

 

Unacceptable Specimens:

Specimens (other than ocular swab) received in APTIMA collection tubes