Test Order

Human

This test order is currently not accepting any specimens until further notice.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF): 0.5 mL

Whole blood: 1 mL

Viral transport media (VTM) inoculated with swabs from vesicular or pustular fluid: 1 mL

For the collection of skin lesion specimens, unroof the scab and place it directly into a breakage resistant tube. For swab collections of vesicular/pustular fluid from lesions, use a sterile needle to unroof the top of the vesicle. Use a sterile synthetic swab, e.g. polyester swab, to vigorously swab the base of the lesion, applying enough pressure to collect epithelial cells. Swabs may be placed directly into a storage tube. Swabs without VTM and skin lesion specimens should be kept dry, stored at room temperature (15-25°C), and shipped at room temperature within 1 week after collection.

Swabs can also be placed in viral transport media. Refrigerate (2-8°C) viral transport medium (VTM) inoculated with swabs from vesicular or pustular fluid. These specimen types should not be stored at room temperature (15-25°C) for longer than 1 hour after collection. If these specimens will be stored for longer than 72 hours, they should be frozen at -20°C or lower.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens should be collected under sterile conditions and stored in a leak proof container. CSF should be stored at -20°C or lower after collection but if needed, it can be stored at 2-8°C for no more than 72 hours. CSF specimens submitted for testing at CDC should be frozen at -20°C or lower prior to shipping and shipped on dry ice overnight. CSF can be stored at -20°C or lower for a maximum of 1 week prior to shipping.

Anticoagulant blood collection tubes (EDTA) should be used for the collection of whole blood. Refrigerate whole blood within 1 hour of collection. These specimen types should not be stored at room temperature (15-25°C) for longer than 1 hour after collection. If these specimens will be stored for longer than 72 hours, they should be frozen at -20°C or lower.

All viral transport medium inoculated with swabs from vesicular or pustular fluid, CSF, and whole blood specimens submitted for testing at CDC should be frozen at -20°C or lower prior to shipping and shipped on dry ice overnight. These specimens can be stored at -20°C or lower for a maximum of 1 week prior to shipping.

Viral transport medium (VTM) inoculated with swabs from vesicular or pustular fluid.

Test subject to CLIA regulations and requires two primary patient identifiers (e.g., patient first and last name, date of birth, unique patient identifier from time of collection, such as medical record number) on the specimen container and on the test requisition.

CDC does not accept routine shipments on weekends or holidays. Please make sure packages arrive Monday – Friday. Swabs from vesicular or pustular fluid without viral transport media and skin lesion samples should be shipped overnight at room temperature with room-temperature cold packs.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), viral transport media inoculated with swabs from vesicular or pustular fluid and whole blood specimens should be shipped frozen on dry ice overnight.

Ship To:
[Insert CDC Point of Contact]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
RDSB/STATT Unit 80
1600 Clifton Road, NE
Atlanta, GA 30329
[Insert CDC Point of Contact’s Telephone Number]

All samples must be shipped in accordance with all applicable local, state and federal regulations.

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

7 Days

None

2.8