Submit one of the following:
1. One swab: vaginal, endocervical, or male urethral (Gen-Probe APTIMA swab)
2. First voided urine (patient should not have urinated for one hour prior to specimen collection) Urine cup is the preferred sample for SLRL. Reference Lab staff will transfer 2 mL to Aptima tube.
3. Cervical cells in liquid cytology vial (CytycThinPrep or TriPath SurePath liquid cytology vial)

Vaginal swab: Collect vaginal fluid sample using the Gen-Probe APTIMA vaginal swab kit 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 in the transport tube and carefully break the swab shaft against the side of the tube. Tightly screw on the cap.

Endocervical swab: Remove excess mucus from the cervical os and surrounding mucosa using the cleaning swab (white-shaft swab in the package with red printing). Discard this swab. Insert the specimen collection swab (blue-shaft swab in the package with green printing) into the endocervical canal. Gently rotate the swab clockwise for 10-30 seconds in the endocervical canal to ensure adequate sampling. Withdraw the swab carefully, avoid contact with the vaginal mucosa. Remove the cap from the swab specimen transport tube and immediately place the specimen collection swab into the transport tube. Carefully break the swab shaft at the scoreline, using care to avoid splashing of the contents. Recap the swab specimen transport tube tightly.

Male urethral swab: The patient should not have urinated for at least one hour prior to specimen collection. Insert the specimen collection swab (blue-shaft swab in the package with the green printing) 2-4 cm into the urethra. Gently rotate the swab clockwise for 2 to 3 seconds in the urethra to ensure adequate sampling. Withdraw the swab carefully. Remove the cap from the swab specimen transport tube and immediately place the specimen collection swab into the specimen transport tube. Carefully break the swab shaft at the scoreline, using care to avoid splashing of the contents. Recap the swab specimen transport tube tightly.

Urine specimen: The patient should not have urinated for at least one hour prior to the specimen collection. Direct the patient to provide a first catch urine (approximately 20-30 mL of the initial urine stream) into a urine collection cup free of any preservatives. Collection of larger volumes of urine may result in specimen dilution that may reduce test sensitivity and lesser volumes may not adequately rinse organisms into the specimen. Female patients should not cleanse the labial area prior to providing the specimen. Add urine to the APTIMA COMBO 2 urine collection device (done in the Reference Laboratory). The final volume must be between the two black lines on the device (about 2 mL).

Specimens with incorrect patient identification; unlabeled specimen; inappropriate specimen transport conditions; specimens received after prolonged delay (usually >72 hours); specimen leaked in transit; specimen in expired transport or incorrect transport device; specimens with inappropriate source for test requested; specimen with fixative or additives; APTIMA urine transport >30 days from collection; APTIMA urine transport with incorrect specimen volume; <15 mL of urine submitted in sterile container; receipt of urine in sterile container that is > 24 hours from collection; APTIMA swab transport >60 days from collection; APTIMA swab specimen with incorrect specimen volume; APTIMA swab specimen without a swab; cleaning swab (white shaft swab) in APTIMA swab transport; any non-Gen-Probe swab submitted in APTIMA transport device; wooden shaft swab in transport device; transport device with multiple swabs; female urethral swab; bloody or grossly mucoid specimens; bacterial swabs; specimens in Probe-Tec UPT transport; Probe-Tec Q swabs; UTM-RT

87661 - Trichomonas PCR (EAP 30035087)

Refrigerated specimens are also acceptable.