Specimen Requirements

Acceptable Specimens:

Fluid, hair, respiratory secretion, skin scraping, tissue, and urine

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Preferred:

Tissue

Container/Tube:  Screw-capped, sterile container
Specimen:  Tissue

Collection Instructions:  Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

Note:  Label container with patient’s full name and 1 additional unique patient identifier such as date of birth, medical record number, emergency ID number, date and time of collection, collector’s initials, and type of specimen.

Alternate:

Fluid

Container/Tube:  Screw-capped, sterile container
Specimen:  Fluid

Collection Instructions:  Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

Note:  Label container with patient’s full name and 1 additional unique patient identifier such as date of birth, medical record number, emergency ID number, date and time of collection, collector’s initials, and type of specimen.

Hair

Container/Tube:  Screw-capped, sterile container
Specimen:  10 hairs from infected area(s)

Collection Instructions:  Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

Note:  Label container with patient’s full name and 1 additional unique patient identifier such as date of birth, medical record number, emergency ID number, date and time of collection, collector’s initials, and type of specimen.

Respiratory Secretion

Container/Tube:  Screw-capped, sterile container

Specimen:  Respiratory secretions

Collection Instructions:  Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature.

Note:  Label container with patient’s full name and 1 additional unique patient identifier such as date of birth, medical record number, emergency ID number, date and time of collection, collector’s initials, and type of specimen.

Skin Scrapings

Container/Tube:  Screw-capped, sterile container

Specimen:  Skin scrapings

Collection Instructions:  Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature.

Note:  Label container with patient’s full name and 1 additional unique patient identifier such as date of birth, medical record number, emergency ID number, date and time of collection, collector’s initials, and type of specimen.

Urine

Container/Tube:  Screw-capped, sterile container

Specimen:  Urine

Collection Instructions:  Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature.

Note:  Label container with patient’s full name and 1 additional unique patient identifier such as date of birth, medical record number, emergency ID number, date and time of collection, collector’s initials, and type of specimen.