Specimen Requirements

Acceptable Specimens:  Cervical, vaginal, urethral, urine or PAP vial.

Cervical

Collect specimen as follows:

1.     Thin Prep/PreservCyt solution vial or Aptima Unisex Swab Specimen Collection Kit

        that has a white label with purple text.

2.     Please collect specimen with blue small tipped swab.  White swab is for cleaning purposed only.

3.     Instructions for collection of specimen are printed on package.

4.     Label tube with patient’s name (first and last), date of birth, date and time of collection,

        type of specimen, and collector’s initials.  Note: Specimen source is required.

5.      Testing for Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NGAMP) and Trichomonas (TRICH) can also be 

          performed on same specimen.

6.       Unacceptable specimens: specimens collected on white / large swab, specimens other than gential or

           specimens from prepubertal patients.

Vaginal 

Collect specimen as follows:

1.     Thin Prep/PreservCyt solution vial or Aptima Vaginal Swab Specimen Collection Kit

        that has a orange label.

2.     Please collect specimen iwth orange swab.

3.      Instructions for collection of specimen are printed on package.

4.      Label tube with patient's name (first and last), date of birth, date and time of collection,

         type of specimen, and collector’s initials.  Note: Specimen source is required.

5.     Testing for Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NGAMP) and Trichomonas (TRICH) can also be 

         performed on same specimen.

6.      Unacceptable specimens: specimens other than genital or specimens from prepubertal patients.

Urethral – for MALES ONLY

Collect specimen as follows:

1.     Urethral specimens must be collected using an Aptima Unisex Swab Specimen Collection Kit

        that has a white label with purple text.

2.     Instructions for collection of specimen are printed on package.

3.     Label tube with patient’s name (first and last), date of birth, date and time of collection,

        type of specimen, and collector’s initials.  Note: Specimen source is required.

4.     Gene Probe for Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NGAMP) testing can also be performed on same specimen.

Urine

Collect specimen as follows:

1.     Patient should not have voided for 1 hour prior to specimen collection.

2.     The first part of the stream (not midstream) should be collected in a sterile urine cup (20-30 mL).

3.     Label tube with patient’s name (first and last), date of birth, date and time of collection, 

         type of specimen, and collector’s initials.

4.     Gene Probe for Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NGAMP) can also be performed on same specimen.

5.     Please transport to the lab at 2 to 30° Celsius within 24 hours of collection.

THIN PREP vial

1.     Sample collected same as for PAP smear.

2.     Label tube with patients's name (first and last) AND date of birth AND date and time of colleciton.

3.     Testing for Neisseria gonorhoeae, Trichomonas and HPV can also be performed on the same specimen.