Sample Requirements

Specimen: Dirty Catch Urine*, Endocervical, Vaginal, Throat, Rectal

NOTE: For non-FDA approved specimens (Eye, Urethral, Penile), order a Miscellaneous Lab Test.  Collect samples using the Apitma Unisex or Aptima Multitest Collection Kit. Eye samples will be sent to Mayo Clinic Laboratory for testing.  Penile and Urethral samples will be sent to UWMC Laboratory for testing.

Container:

• Sterile Container for all Urines
• "GeneXpert Vaginal Endocervical Collection kit" CT/NG swabs for all in house PCR testing
• If sample is bloody collect instead:
  • "Aptima Unisex Collection kit" for Endocervical or Urethral sites.
  • "Aptima Multitest Collection kit" for Vaginal Penile, Throat, or Rectal Sites

Preferred Vol: 10mL for Urine

Minimum Vol: 7mL for Urine**

Please consult the Photo Swab Guide to determine which swab to collect.

*Dirty Catch urine is the first stream of the first morning void (for maximum sensitivity), or the first stream at least 1 hour after the last void. Patient should not perform any genital cleaning before collection. If the patient has submitted a clean catch sample, a dirty catch sample can be submitted at least one hour since the last void. Clean catch urines are unacceptable for testing and will be REJECTED.

**Urine samples with suboptimal volumes (between 2mL - 7mL) will be sent to the University of Washington for testing.  Send urine to lab in sterile container.  Urine samples of less than 2mL are unacceptable and will be REJECTED.

Bloody swabs/urine samples will be sent to University of Washington for testing.  Send bloody urine to lab in sterile container.  Collect bloody Vaginal or Endocervical samples with Gen-Probe APTIMA collection kit. Call Microbiology (206-987-2585) for APTIMA Kits.

Samples received in Aptima collection kits will be forwarded to the University of Washington for testing.