Specimen Requirements

Specimen must be tested within 8 hours of collection at ambient temperature or 72 hours of collection at refrigerated temperature.

Obtain specimen using Hologic Biomedical Specimen Collection Kit prior to digital examination or manipulation of cervix.

Note: Patients with suspected or known placental abruption, placenta previa, or moderate or gross vaginal bleeding should not be tested for fFN.

Asymptomatic Women

1. Obtain specimen from posterior fornix of vagina or ectocervical region of external cervical os during a sterile speculum examination. (Improperly labeled specimen, specimen collected in or by any sample device other than Adeza Biomedical Specimen Collection Kit, specimen with insufficient volume for testing, specimen received ≥72 hours of collection, or specimen received at >25° C.)

2. Do not contaminate specimen with lubricants, soaps, disinfectants, or creams.

3. Dacron swab provided in collection kit should be inserted into vagina and lightly rotated across posterior fornix or around ectocervical region of external cervical os for approximately 10 seconds to absorb cervicovaginal secretions.

4. Once specimen is obtained, carefully remove swab and immerse swab into tube of buffer provided with kit.

5. Break shaft (at score) even with top of tube. Align shaft with hole inside tube cap and push down tightly over shaft, sealing tube.

6. Label tube with patient’s name and hospital number.

7. Forward promptly at ambient temperature, avoiding exposure to extreme temperatures. Refrigerate specimen at 2° C to 8° C if unable to test within 8 hours of collection.

Symptomatic Women

1. Obtain specimen from posterior fornix of vagina during a sterile speculum examination. (Improperly labeled specimen, specimen collected in or by any sample device other than Adeza Biomedical Specimen Collection Kit, specimen with insufficient volume for testing, specimen received ≥72 hours of collection, or specimen received at >25° C.)

2. Do not contaminate specimen with lubricants, soaps, disinfectants, or creams.

3. Dacron swab provided in collection kit should be inserted into vagina and lightly rotated across posterior fornix for approximately 10 seconds to absorb cervicovaginal secretions.

4. Once specimen is obtained, carefully remove swab and immerse swab into tube of buffer provided with kit.

5. Break shaft (at score) even with top of tube. Align shaft with hole inside tube cap and push down tightly over shaft, sealing tube.

6. Label tube with patient’s name and hospital number.

7. Forward promptly at ambient temperature, avoiding exposure to extreme temperatures. Refrigerate specimen at 2° C to 8° C if unable to test within 8 hours of collection.