Laboratory Testing
Specimen Collection, Storage, and Shipment
Refer to this table when you collect, store, and ship specimens. Before sending specimens to CDC, please contact your state or local health department, then email soberste@cdc.gov and cburns@cdc.gov for additional information and to provide shipment details.
Specimen Type | Minimum Amount | Collection | Storage | Shipping | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Stool | ≥1 gram | Collect in sterile container, do not add transport medium | Freeze at -20°C | Ship on dry ice | Highest likelihood of virus isolation |
Serum | 0.2 ml | Collect in sterile container | Freeze at -20°C | Ship on dry ice | Helpful in supporting diagnosis, but not usually as primary specimen |
Respiratory – Nasopharyngeal/Oropharyngeal swab | 1 ml | Store in viral transport medium | Freeze at -20°C | Ship on dry ice | Not recommended |
Cerebrospinal fluid | 0.2 ml | Collect in sterile container, no special medium required; do not dilute | Freeze at -20°C | Ship on dry ice | Not recommended |
- Page last reviewed: September 12, 2017
- Page last updated: September 12, 2017
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