MICROBIOLOGY

SPECIMEN COLLECTION
AND TRANSPORT GUIDE
 S WA B CO L L E C T I O N A N D T R A N S P O R T D E V I C E S

Prior to specimen collection, store all transport devices at room

temperature unless otherwise indicated. Prior to use, inspect collection and
transport materials for their expiration dates.
Swab or Double Swab in Amies Agar Gel Swab in Liquid Stuart’s Medium
Use for aerobic and anaerobic bacterial culture and fungal Use for MRSA detection by nucleic acid amplification. Remove
culture. Use double swab when both culture and Gram stain are white cap from top of transport tube and discard. Holding
needed. Use for Group B Streptococcus colonization detection shaft by end with colored cap, collect specimen with the swab.
from vaginal/rectal specimens. Remove white cap from top of Insert (still attached to colored cap) firmly into the sponge in the
transport tube and discard. Holding shaft by end with colored transport tube. Do not break or cut the shaft. Transport at room
cap, collect specimen with the swab. Insert swab (still attached temperature after collection for up to 48 hours.
to colored cap) firmly into the agar gel in the transport tube. Do Supply order number: 33346
not break or cut the shaft. Transport at room temperature after
collection.
Supply order numbers: 33302, 49481, 33325

Nasopharyngeal Dry Flocked Swab

Use for viral culture (eg, influenza) or nucleic acid amplification
(NAA) testing (eg, B pertussis) of nasopharyngeal specimens. For
B pertussis NAA only: Place swab into its dry plastic transport
tube and transport at room or refrigerated temperature. For
other NAA testing and viral culture of nasopharyngeal
specimens: Place swab in Universal Transport Medium (UTM-
Double Polyester Dry Swab RT) and transport at room temperature for up to 24 hours after
Use for Group A Strep Rapid Antigen Screen and Group A Strep collection or refrigerate.
Direct DNA Probe. Acceptable for Group A Strep Culture. Do
Supply order number: 93307
not use for routine bacterial culture. Transport at room
temperature after collection.
Supply order numbers: 33235, 48222

Soft Aluminum Wire Dry Minitip Swab

Use for bacterial culture of nasopharynx or for bacterial/viral
culture of male urethra. Can be used for nucleic acid amplification
Double Swab in Liquid Amies Medium testing (eg, HSV) from male urethra. For B pertussis culture,
Use for BV sialidase activity and vaginal yeast culture. Remove place swab in Bordetella Culture Transport. For other bacterial
white cap from top of transport tube and discard. Holding shaft culture, place swab in Amies Agar Gel Bacterial Transport. For
by end with colored cap, collect specimen with the swab. Insert viral culture or nucleic acid amplification testing, place swab in
swab (still attached to colored cap) firmly into the sponge in the Universal Transport Medium (UTM-RT). See Sexually Transmitted
transport tube. Do not break or cut the shaft. Transport at room Diseases (STDs) & NuSwab® Tests by Nucleic Acid Amplification
temperature or refrigerate for up to 72 hours after collection. for additional information regarding collection and transport for
Supply order number: 33336 detection of these pathogens.
Supply order numbers: 19771, 24068

2
Routine Blood Culture Urine Culture Transport
Use an Adult or Pediatric Blood Culture Collection Kit for culture Use for urine culture only. This gray-top Vacutainer® transport
of blood for bacteria and yeast. Indicate if culture is to rule out will maintain bacterial colony counts during transport to the lab
Brucella or Francisella. Transport bottles at room temperature for a period of 48 hours. Fill tubes to the minimum fill line (at
after collection. Adults (2-bottle set): Collect blood using least 4 mL). Do not submit a red/yellow swirl-top Vacutainer®
blood collection set and adapter cap, following instructions urinalysis preservative tube for urine culture. Transport at room
on procedural chart included in kit. Inoculate 8-10 mL into the temperature after collection.
BacT/Alert® (Fan Plus) aerobic bottle, and then inoculate 8-10 Supply order numbers: 25067, 23643
mL into the BacT/Alert® (Fan Plus) anaerobic bottle. If collection
volume is low, submit using only the aerobic bottle. The aerobic
bottle has no minimum volume requirement. Children (1
bottle): Collect blood using blood collection set and adapter Cup NOT
supplied
cap, following instructions on procedural chart included in kit.
Inoculate up to 4 mL into the BacT/Alert® (Fan Plus) Pediatric
bottle.
Supply order numbers: 125184 (adult), 125185 (pediatric) Vacutainer® Urine
Culture Transport
Tube

Aerobic,
Anaerobic, and
Pediatric BacT/
Alert® (Fan Plus) Bordetella Culture Transport
Blood Culture
Bottles Charcoal-containing Regan-Lowe medium is used for transport
of specimens for B pertussis culture. Store refrigerated
before use. Allow medium to warm to ambient temperature
before inoculation. Place aluminum wire minitip swab into
transport medium after nasopharyngeal specimen is obtained.
Preincubate the inoculated bottle at 35ºC (if possible) prior
to transport at refrigerated temperature. Alternatively, for
Sterile Container
detection of Bordetella DNA by nucleic acid amplification (NAA)
Use for transport of specimens for those tests where preservative testing, submit a nasopharyngeal dry flocked swab in its dry
is contraindicated; for example, sputum for bacterial culture; plastic transport tube at room or refrigerated temperature.
or nails, hair, and skin for fungal culture. Refer to LabCorp Regan-Lowe medium is not suitable for NAA testing.
Directory of Services and Interpretive Guide for proper transport
Supply order number: 31965
temperature for a specific test request.
Supply order number: 20648

3
 S WA B CO L L E C T I O N A N D T R A N S P O R T D E V I C E S

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) & NuSwab® Tests by Nucleic Acid Amplification
For detection of C trachomatis, N gonorrhoeae, T vaginalis, herpes simplex virus 1 & 2, Candida species, genital
Mycoplasma/Ureaplasma, and/or bacterial vaginosis

Submit the APTIMA® multitest swab transport with Supply order numbers: 119391, 57677, 33291
orange label (preferred transport) for amplified detection
of C trachomatis (Ct), N gonorrhoeae (Ng), T vaginalis
(Tv), herpes simplex virus (HSV) 1 & 2, Candida species,
M hominis, Ureaplasma, M genitalium, and/or bacterial
vaginosis (BV) from vaginal fluid specimens. Collect vaginal APTIMA® Multitest Swab Transport (preferred for NuSwabSM testing)
sample by contacting the swab to the lower third of the
vaginal wall and rotating the swab for 10-30 seconds to
absorb fluid. Immediately place the swab into transport
tube and carefully break the swab shaft against the side of
the tube. Alternatively, submit the APTIMA® unisex swab APTIMA® Unisex Swab Transport
transport with white label for amplified detection of Ct, Ng,
Submit the APTIMA® urine transport with yellow label for
Tv, M hominis, U urealyticum, M genitalium, or HSV 1 & 2
amplified detection of Ct, Ng, Tv, M hominis, Ureaplasma, and/or
from endocervical or male urethral specimens. A vaginal
M genitalium from male or female first-void urine specimens.
specimen is required if the unisex swab is used for amplified
Total volume of urine submitted must fall between the two
detection of BV and/or Candida species. All tests can be
black lines indicated on the transport tube label. Transport at
performed from a single transport device. Do not place
room temperature or refrigerate after collection.
more than 1 swab in a single transport device. Do not use
the white-shafted cleaning swab that comes with the unisex
swab to collect specimen. Transport at room temperature
or refrigerate after collection.

APTIMA® Urine Transport

Vaginitis/Vaginosis by DNA Probe

Submit the BD Affirm™ VPIII ATTS sample collection tube for detection of Candida species,
G vaginalis, and T vaginalis from vaginal fluid swab specimens of patients with symptoms
of vaginitis/vaginosis. Break the ampule and dispense the ambient temperature transport
reagent into the sample collection tube before placing the swab specimen into the tube.
Transport at room temperature or refrigerate after collection. Specimens must be tested
within 72 hours after collection.
Supply order number: 56228

BD Affirm™ VPIII
Ambient Temperature
Transport System

4
Universal Transport Medium Trichomonas Culture
The multipurpose Universal Transport Medium (UTM-RT) is The InPouch™ TV system is used to maintain the viability of T
used for the collection and transport of specimens to be tested vaginalis during transport. Tear open pouch at notch and insert
for viruses, Mycoplasma, and Ureaplasma. Additionally, UTM- swab into liquid of upper chamber. Gently press swab between
RT can be used for transport of swab specimens submitted walls of the chamber, and then discard swab. Roll down
for detection of bacterial (except B pertussis) or viral DNA by pouch 2 full turns, and fold end tabs to lock. Transport at room
NAA (eg, PCR). UTM-RT can be stored at room or refrigerated temperature after collection.
temperature prior to specimen collection. Collect specimen Supply order number: 83557
using appropriate sampling swab, and then place swab in
medium, breaking off shaft in tube. Transport and store at
room temperature for up to 24 hours after specimen is placed
into medium or refrigerate. For PCR testing, specimen may be
transported at room or refrigerated temperature. Note: If M4
InPouch™ TV Trichomonas Transport
or M4-RT transport medium (not supplied by LabCorp) is used
and Culture Medium
instead of UTM-RT, a) M4-RT can be stored at room temperature
before specimen collection but cannot be used for transport of
specimens for Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma culture, b) M4 may Sterile Body Fluid Culture
be kept at room temperature for up to 30 days prior to use but Use the Vacutainer® Plus No Additive Tube for transport of
requires refrigerated storage before specimen collection if held sterile body fluid specimens (eg, cerebrospinal, synovial, or
longer, and c) both M4 and M4-RT must be kept refrigerated peritoneal fluids) for culture. Alternatively, an empty sterile
after specimen collection. tube, other sterile leakproof container, or BacT/Alert blood
culture bottle can be used. A Vacutainer red-top tube is not
Supply order number: 24674
acceptable. Transport at room temperature.
Supply order number: 44370

UTM-RT Transport (Purple-cap)

Vacutainer® Plus No Additive Transport Tube
Jembec Plate for GC Culture
Culture media transport system containing Modified Thayer COVID-19 RT-PCR Test
Martin agar used to improve recovery of N gonorrhoeae. Plates (anterior nares)
are stored refrigerated and should be prewarmed prior to use. Specimen collection kit for the collection
Inoculate Jembec plate with specimen by rolling swab over of LabCorp's 2019 Novel Coronavirus
surface of medium. Remove the CO2 tablet from the foil pouch (COVID-19) assay from the anterior
and place in the well of the plate, and seal inoculated plate in a nares (nasal collection). May be used
zip-lock bag. Preincubate at 35°C (if possible) prior to transport for other respiratory viral testing panels
at room temperature. where a nasal collection in 0.9% saline
Supply order number: 33297 is an acceptable sample type. Other
respiratory pathogens that require
collection using a nasopharyngeal
swab and a viral or universal transport
media will not be accepted if collected
Jembec Plate using this kit. Transport frozen at -20° C
(preferred) or refrigerated if received for
testing within 72 hours of collection.
Supply order number: 127684 Saline Kit Swab

5
 S WA B CO L L E C T I O N A N D T R A N S P O R T D E V I C E S

Sampling Probe

Fecal Occult Blood by Immunoassay (iFOBT)

Submit stool obtained using Polymedco sampling bottle to detect occult blood by immunochemical
method. Scrape surface of fecal sample with sampling probe until grooved portion of probe is completely
covered with stool. Insert probe into sampling bottle and snap cap on tightly. Transport at room
temperature after collection. Include test requisition with device when submitting specimen to lab by
Sampling mail. Testing must be performed within 15 days of specimen collection.
Bottle
Contact LabCorp representative for ordering information.

QuantiFERON®-TB Gold Plus (QFT®-Plus) Assay Ova & Parasites (O&P) Transport
for Tuberculosis Infection The pink (formalin) and gray (PVA) Para-Pak® vials are used for
The QuantiFERON®-TB Gold Plus (QFT-Plus) collection kit is transport of stool specimens for ova and parasites examination.
used to submit specimens for the interferon-gamma release Place stool into each vial up to, but not higher than, the red
assay for detection of tuberculosis infection. This QFT-Plus fill line. Both vials should be submitted for the O&P exam. For
kit contains collection and handling instructions and 4 Giardia antigen, Cryptosporidium,
unique blood collection tubes. (1) gray-top (with white ring), Microsporidium, and Cyclospora
uncoated (nil); (2) green cap with white ring, TB1 tube; (3) exams, submit stool specimens in a
yellow cap with white ring, TB2 tube; (4) purple top with white pink vial. Submit stool in a gray vial
ring, mitogen-coated. A high-altitude kit is also available for for fecal leukocyte detection. These
locations between 3350 and 6150 feet; a cap with a yellow tests must be ordered separately
ring differentiates the tubes. Collect whole blood into each from the O&P exam. Transport at
of the 4 collection tubes and shake them ten (10) times room temperature after collection.
firmly enough to ensure the entire inner surface of the tube Supply order number: 49627 PVA and Formalin Vials
is coated with blood. Return each of the properly filled,
labeled, and shaken tubes to the box labeled “QFT kit.” Seal Stool Culture Transport
the top by removing tape from the adhesive. Submit kit for
The orange Para-Pak® vial containing Cary Blair
arrival at the laboratory within 14 hours of collection, or,
transport medium is designed to maintain the
alternatively, incubate at 37°C for 16 to 24 hours within 16
viability of enteric pathogens during transport
hours of collection prior to transport. Blood collection tubes
to the laboratory. Place stool into vial up to, but
should be at room temperature at the time of collection. Do
not higher than, the red fill line. Rectal swabs
not centrifuge, refrigerate, or ship tubes on ice.
collected from pediatric patients are placed into
Supply order number: 121725, 121727 (High Altitude) the vial after breaking off the shaft. Transport at
room temperature after collection.
Supply order number: 49628 C&S Vial

Stool Transport Without Preservative

The white Para-Pak® clean vial is used for
transport of stool for those tests where
preservative is contraindicated; for example, C
difficile toxin, rotavirus, and H pylori antigen. Refer
to LabCorp Directory of Services and Interpretive
Guide for proper transport temperature for a
specific test request.
QuantiFERON®-TB Gold Plus (QFT®-Plus) Kit Supply order number: 59517
Clean Vial
6
Supply Ordering Information
Item Reorder Number
Affirm™ VPIII Ambient Temperature Transport System 56228
APTIMA® Unisex Swab Transport, 50/box 57677
APTIMA® Urine Transport, 50/box 33291
APTIMA® Multitest Swab Transport, 50/box
119391
(Preferred for NuSwab® tests)
Blood Culture Adult Collection Kit 125184
Blood Culture Pediatric Collection Kit 125185
Bordetella Culture Transport (Regan-Lowe) 31965
COVID-19 Collection Kit, Saline, 50/case 127684
Fecal Occult Blood iFOBT Collection Mailer, 20/pack Contact LabCorp representative for ordering information

InPouch™ TV Trichomonas Transport 83557

Jembec Plate for GC 33297
Para-Pak C&S Vial 49628
Para-Pak Clean (Empty) Vial 59517
Para-Pak O&P Vials (PVA and Formalin) 49627
QuantiFERON®-TB Gold Plus Collection Kit 121725
QuantiFERON®-TB Gold Plus Collection Kit - High Altitude 121727
Sterile Body Fluid Culture Vacutainer® Transport Tube 44370
Sterile Container 20648
Swab, Amies Agar Gel, 50/box 33302
Swab, Amies Agar Gel, 500/case 49481
Swab, Double, Amies Agar Gel, 50/box 33325
Swab, Double, Amies Liquid, 500/case 33336
Swab, Double, Dry, Polyester (for Strep), 50/box 33235
Swab, Double, Dry, Polyester (for Strep), 500/case 48222
Swab, Dry, Soft Aluminum Wire, Minitip, 100/box 19771
Swab, Dry, Soft Aluminum Wire, Minitip, 1000/case 24068
Swab, Flocked, Dry, Nasopharyngeal, 100/box 93307
Swab, Stuart’s Liquid, 50/pack 33346
Urine Culture Collection Transfer Straws 25067
Urine Culture Vacutainer® Transport Tube 23643
UTM-RT Viral/Chlamydia/Mycoplasma Transport, Female Swab 24674

7
Microbiology Specimen Collection
and Transport Guide

For detailed specimen collection information, visit the online test menu at www.LabCorp.com.

Brand names listed herein are trademarks of their respective owners.

©2020 Laboratory Corporation of America® Holdings All rights reserved. L1196-1120-15