Specimen Requirements

Container/Tube Type: 

Remel Female or Male M4RT Specimen Collection

Also Acceptable Collection Container: 

Aptima swab

Collection Information: 

1. Remove one swab from the packaging.
2. Rotate the swab in the specimen site.
3. Immediately place the swab into the transport medium. Break the shaft of the swab, leaving the remaining swab in the transport medium. Make sure the cap is tightly secured to the tube.

Copan ESwabs are acceptable.

Transport Information: 

Refrigerated recommended; frozen acceptable; ambient - do not reject

Remarks: 

Gross presence of blood may interfere with test performance.
Collection using carbomer-containing products may generate invalid or false negative results.
STI Sample Collection Guidance - Carbomer-free and Carbomer-containing product list (2023)

Unacceptable Conditions: 

Specimens NOT in M4RT transport medium or cobas® PCR media, and wooden swabs.