Specimen Requirements

Missouri:

Specimen:

Within 72 hours of rash onset: Nasopharyngeal (preferred) or Throat (acceptable) swab in universal transport media.

Between 4-10 days of rash onset: Nasopharyngeal (preferred) or Throat (acceptable) swab in universal transport media AND urine specimen in sterile container (no preservative).

Collection: use standard NP or throat swab collection techniques.

Nasopharyngeal (NP) swab • Use only sterile Dacron, Nylon, Polyester, or flocked swabs with plastic shafts. (BD UTM Swab- Viral) • Immediately place swab into screw-capped vial of viral transport media, breaking off the end of the swab to ensure proper closure of the specimen vial.

Storage: refrigerate.

Contact: Bureau of Communicable Disease Control and Prevention (BCDCP) is required prior to specimen collection or submission. You may contact BCDCP at 573-751-6113 during business hours or 800-392-0272 (24/7). All cases or suspected cases of measles must be reported immediately to BCDCP.

For more information on the collection and shipment of specimens for measles testing go to:  http://health.mo.gov/lab/measles.php 

Note for Mayo Clinic testing: throat swab in UTM (NP swabs are not acceptable) and urine are acceptable specimens.