Specimen Collection, Storage, & Shipment

Refer to this table when you collect, store and ship specimens. Before sending specimens to CDC, please contact wnix@cdc.gov or soberste@cdc.gov.

Note that CDC will use real-time PCR for generic testing and nested PCR for typing.

Specimen Type	Minimum Amount	Collection	Storage	Shipping	Comments
Respiratory – NP/OP swab	1ml	Store in viral transport medium	Freeze at -20°C	Ship on dry ice
Respiratory – NP/OP wash or aspirate	1ml	Collect in sterile container, no special medium required	Freeze at -20°C	Ship on dry ice
Stool	=1gram	Collect in sterile container, no special medium required	Freeze at -20°C	Ship on dry ice	Virus present for longer than other specimen types
Rectal swab	=1gram	Store in viral transport medium	Freeze at -20°C	Ship on dry ice
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)	=150 ul	Collect in sterile container, no special medium required. Collect within 0-4 days of symptom onset (earlier the better)	Freeze at -20°C	Ship on dry ice
Serum					Not recommended
Fresh-frozen tissue	N/A	Place directly on dry ice or liquid nitrogen	Freeze at -70°C	Ship on dry ice	Preferred to formalin-fixed/paraffin embedded tissue
Formalin-fixed or formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue	N/A	Avoid prolonged fixation—can fix in formalin then transfer to 100% ethanol	Room temperature	Ship at room temperature with paraffin blocks in carriers to prevent breakage	Acceptable, but lower sensitivity than fresh-frozen tissue