Test Order

Human

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

Stool: 1 gram, 10 - 20 grams preferred
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF): 0.15 mL, 0.5-2 ml preferred,
Serum: 0.15 mL, 0.5-2 ml preferred
Respiratory swab specimens in VTM: 0.5 mL; 1 ml preferred

Collecting specimens upon the first week of illness is ideal; if collected the second week, it should include a stool sample.

For all swab specimens, use only sterile Dacron or rayon swabs with plastic shafts or, if available, flocked swabs. Place the swab immediately into a sterile vial containing 2 mL of viral transport media.

For stool, CSF, respiratory wash specimen - collect each specimen in a clean, dry, leak-proof container. Stool should be collected within 14 days of symptom onset. Send only original, unprocessed stool. Do not add transport medium.

For serum specimens, collect whole blood into a serum separator tube (marble or tiger top SST). Allow to clot at room temperature (15°C to 25°C) for a minimum of 30 minutes, centrifuge, remove serum from the separator tube and send an aliquot in a sterile container.

After collection, freeze (-20°C or lower) all specimens and ship to CDC within 1 month. If necessary, specimens may be kept at 2-8°C for no more than 72 hours after collection and prior to freezing.

Viral transport medium (VTM) should be used with these specimen types: nasopharyngeal swab (NP), oropharyngeal swab (OP), nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal swab (NP/OP)

This test order can accommodate diagnostic and non-diagnostic specimens. Testing subject to CLIA regulations 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.
       
Research or surveillance specimens may be labeled according to protocol. Labels should not include personally identifiable information. The results reported should NOT be used for diagnosis, treatment, assessment of health or management of the individual patient.

CDC does not accept routine shipments on weekends or holidays. Please make sure packages arrive Monday – Friday. Frozen specimens should be shipped on dry ice. All specimens should be shipped frozen on dry ice under UN3373, Category B.

Ship To:
[Insert CDC Point of Contact]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
RDSB/STATT Unit 76
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.

Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR)

2 Weeks

Frozen specimens must remain frozen; warming or freeze-thaw cycle reduces sensitivity. For serum, heparin may cause interference with the molecular tests and should be avoided. For swab specimens, do not use calcium alginate swabs or swabs with wooden sticks, as they may inactivate some viruses and inhibit some molecular assays.

Not Applicable

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