Specimen Requirements

Specimen Type: Nasal Swab

Container/Tube: Copan e-Swab (white or green) or BD E-Swab (white or green) Transport System

Specimen Volume:  NA

Collection Instructions:

1.  Obtain a nasal swab using an Eswab.
2. Ask the patient to tilt his/her head back.  Insert dry swabs approximately 1-2 cm into each nostril.
3. Rotate the swabs against the inside of the nostril for 3 seconds.  Apply slight pressure with a finger on the outside of the nose to help assure good contact between the swab and inside of the nose.
4. Using the same swabs, repeat for the second nostril, trying not to touch anything but the inside of the nose.
5. Place the swabs into the plastic transport tube.  The swabs should go all the way into thetube until they rest on top of the sponge at the bottom of the tube.Make sure the cap is on tightly.  

Additional Information: 

1. Specimen source is required.

2. Label tube with patient’s name (first, last, and middle initial), medical record number (if appropriate), date of birth and/or Social Security number, date and time of collection, and source of specimen.