ACCEPTABLE SPECIMEN:
Nasopharyngeal/Oropharyngeal (NP/OP) swab (preferred), NP swab, OP swab (throat swab), Bronchoalveolar Lavage (BAL), Nasal Swab, Nasopharyngeal Wash, Nasal Wash.
PLACE SWABS IN VTM (Viral Transport Media)

DELIVER IMMEDIATELY TO MICROBIOLOGY IN A TIGHTLY SEALED CONTAINER WITH NO EXTERNAL SPILLAGE.
Refrigerate BAL and endotracheal aspirates. Specimens transported in Viral Transport (VTM) media are stable at ambient temperature.
 Causes for Rejection:
1. Specimen container leaking.
2. Specimen not labeled with patient's name, MRN, date and time of collection, and collector's initials.
3. Specimen received on calcium alginate swab.
4. Specimen received on dry swab.
5. Specimen received on swab with wooden shaft.
       NOTE: CALCIUM ALGINATE SWABS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE

Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

The performance of this PCR test was verified in the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory at Duke University Medical Center.

1.  Nasal swab collection instructions- English:  https://prodduke.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/MicrobiologySharepoint/EYc38gbRN5ROh67CVZdSXsEBfgaObwYIieYdOhWlIGpXhQ?e=SMlpJX
2.  Nasal swab collection instructions- Spanish:  https://prodduke.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/MicrobiologySharepoint/Ed6-oLGUVhxHukAuBtfUoUYBYXM7JYVzU78oopYquc_rUA?e=N45kFj
3.  Nasopharyngeal (NP) swab collection instructions:  https://prodduke.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/MicrobiologySharepoint/EW2-1-nEOo9Kk72SCz6lPWQBUILOcwlzs7XxhgmKKL0EXw?e=hTahuW