Rejection Criteria:

Sputum specimens.

Testing
Schedule:

0700-1630, 7 days a week, including holidays.

Comments:

See specific viral agents for more details.
A.  Biopsy or tissue - immerse in transport media.  Available from
UIDL Client Services.
B.  Blood or buffy coat culture - collect 10 ml of blood in a
lavender (EDTA) tube.
C.  CSF - collect 1-5 ml in a sterile container.
D.  Nasopharyngeal wash - inoculate 3 ml of normal sterile saline
into the nasal passage with a bulb syringe while the patients head is
tilted back.  Aspirate 1-2 ml into a sterile container.
E.  Respiratory secretions - collect specimens in a sterile container.
Sterile container for bronchial washings and bronchoalveolar lavage
specimens.  Mucous trap or delee trap for tracheal aspirates and nasal
washings.
F.  Swab - Transport media available from UIDL Client Services.
G.  Throat wash - Have patient gargle with 3-5 ml of normal sterile
saline.  Collect wash in a sterile specimen container.
H.  Vesicle - Expose the base of the lesion by lifting the cap of the 
vesicle or ulcer.  Use swab from viral/chlamydia transport kit 
(923740), swab entire base of the lesion firmly to collect cellular 
material (without causing bleeding).  Place swab in viral transport 
media.
I.  Urine - collect 1-10 ml of clean voided midstream morning urine
collected in a sterile container.

Sample
Processing:

Immediately place specimen into vial of transport media and seal 
tightly.
Indicate specimen/fluid type on requisition.
Label transport tube with two patient identifiers, date and time of 
collection.
Maintain sterility and forward promptly to lab.
Specimen should be collected and packaged as close to shipping time as 
possible.
Specimen source is required on requisition for processing.
Submit in sterile transport container.
Submit in leakproof container.

Sample
Storage:

Refrigerate up to 24 hours.
Specimen cannot be frozen.

Transport
Instructions:

Place requisition into outside pocket of bag.
Place coolant packs into styrofoam container.
Recommend express mail or equivalent if not on courier service.