Specimen Requirements

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Female Patient Cervical/Endocervix

1. Remove excess mucus from cervical and surrounding mucosa using the cleaning swab (large cotton-ended swab provided). Discard this swab.

2. Insert the Copan flocked collection swab into the endocervical canal.

3. Gently rotate swab clockwise for 10-30 seconds in the endocervical canal to ensure adequate sampling.

4. Withdraw swab carefully, avoiding any contact with vaginal mucosa.

5. Remove cap from swab specimen transport tube and immediately place the specimen collection swab into the transport tube.

6. Carefully break the swab shaft at the scoreline; use care to avoid splashing of contents.

7. Recap the swab specimen transport tube tightly.

8. After collection, transport and store swab specimen transport tube at 2-30° C. Assay within 60 days of collection.

Female Patient Vaginal Source:

1. Do not use the large cotton-ended swab. Discard.

2. Insert Copan flocked collection swab into the vagina.

3. Gently rotate swab clockwise for 10-30 seconds in the vagina to ensure adequate sampling.

4. Withdraw swab carefully.

5. Remove the cap from the swab specimen transport tube and immediately place the specimen collection swab into the transport tube.

6. Carefully break the swab shaft at the scoreline; use care to avoid splashing of contents.

7. Recap the swab specimen transport tube tightly.

8. After collection, transport and store swab specimen transport tube at 2-8° C. Assay within 60 days of collection.

Urine, Male or Female:

1. The patient should not have urinated for at least one hour prior to sampling.

2. Direct the patient to provide a first-catch urine (approximately 20-30 mL of initial urine stream) into a urine collection cup. Collection of larger volumes of urine may reduce test sensitivity. Female patients should not cleanse the labial area prior to providing the specimen.  Male patients should not cleanse  tip of penis.

3. Urine specimens can be transported to the laboratory at 2-30° C in the primary collection device (urine cup). Urine specimens must be maintained at 2-30° C and must be transferred to the specimen transport tube within 24 hours of collection. Processed urine specimens must be tested within 30 days of collection. BD culture transport tube or catheterized urine are not acceptable specimens.

Note:

1. Physician usually obtains specimen.
2. Specimen should be collected before the administration of antibiotics effective against Chlamydia.

Causes for rejection:
A. Inadequately labeled specimen
B. Improper container
C. Wrong method of collection