Specimen Requirements

Acceptable Specimens:

Endocervical or vaginal swabs (female only)

First voided urine specimens (male or female)

Pharyngeal swabs (male or female)

Rectal swabs (male or female)

Endocervical Swab:

Obtain Xpert Swab Specimen Collection Kit (Pink cap) and collect as follows:

1.  Remove excess mucus from cervical os and surrounding mucosa using the large individually wrapped cleaning swab.

2.  Insert second swab from collection kit into endocervical canal.

3.  Rotate swab for 10 to 30 seconds in endocervical canal to ensure adequate sampling.

4.  Withdraw swab carefully; avoid any contact with vaginal mucosa.

5.  Aseptically remove cap from tube, insert swab into Collection Transport Reagent tube, and break swab at score line.  Screw cap on securely.

6. Label specimen and send to care provider.

7.  Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature.  Specimen stability is 60 days at 2 to 30°C.

Note:  Indicate specimen source on specimen container and in computer.

Physician or Patient –collected Vaginal Swab:

Obtain Xpert Swab Specimen Collection Kit (Pink cap) and collect as follows:

1.  Remove and discard the large individually wrapped cleaning swab. 

2.  Using the swab from the collection packet, (instruct patient) or have physician carefully insert swab into vagina about 2 inches inside the opening of the vagina and gently rotate swab for 10 to 30 seconds.  Ensure the swab touches the walls of the vagina so that moisture is absorbed by the swab.

3.  Withdraw swab carefully.

4.  Aseptically remove cap from tube, insert swab into Collection Transport Reagent tube, and break swab at score line.  Screw cap on securely.

5.  Label specimen and send to the care provider.

6.  Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature.  Specimen stability is 60 days at 2 to 30°C.

Note:  Indicate specimen source on specimen container and in computer.

Urine collection:

Obtain Xpert Urine Transport Collection Kit (Yellow cap) and collect as follows:

1.  Patient should not have urinated for at least 1 hour prior to specimen collection.

2.  Do not cleanse urethral area prior to specimen collection.

3.  Patient should collect first portion of random voided urine (first part of stream) into a sterile, plastic, preservative-free container.

4.  Ensure that the urine is well mixed in the urine cup and transfer approximately 7 mL of urine into the Xpert CT/NG UrineTransport Reagent tube using the disposable pipette provided within 24 hours of collection.  The correct volume of urine has been added when the fluid level reaches the dash line on the urine transport tube.  NOTE:  If the specimen is being sent to the lab within 24 hours, it can be sent in the original urine collection container.

5.  Transport and store urine specimen transport container at 2 to 30°C.  The preserved specimen is acceptable for 3 days at ambient temperature and 45 days at refrigerated temperature.

Pharyngeal swab collection:

Obtain Xpert Swab Specimen Collection Kit (Pink cap) and collect as follows:

1.  Remove and discard the large individually wrapped cleaning swab. 

2.  Using the swab from the collection packet, instruct patient to open mouth widely. Position the tongue toward the bottom of the mouth. Swab areas of the pharynx (tonsil, posterior wall, uvula).

3.  Withdraw swab carefully.

4.  Aseptically remove cap from tube, insert swab into Collection Transport Reagent tube, and break swab at score line.  Screw cap on securely.

5.  Label specimen and send to the care provider.

6.  Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature.  Specimen stability is 60 days at 4 to 30°C.

Note:  Indicate specimen source on specimen container and in computer.

Rectal swab collection:

Obtain Xpert Swab Specimen Collection Kit (Pink cap) and collect as follows:

1.  Remove and discard the large individually wrapped cleaning swab. 

2.  Using the swab from the collection packet, Carefully insert the swab approximately 1 cm behond the anal sphincter (so that the fiber tip is no longer visible) and rotate gently. Avoid highly soiling the swab with stool specimen.

3.  Withdraw swab carefully.

4.   Aseptically remove cap from tube, insert swab into Collection Transport Reagent tube, and break swab at score line.  Screw cap on securely.

5.  Label specimen and send to the care provider.

6.  Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature.  Specimen stability is 60 days at 4 to 30°C.

Note:  Indicate specimen source on specimen container and in computer.