Necessary Information

Specimen source is required.

Specimen Required

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Specimen Type: Endocervix/cervix

Supplies: Swab, Aptima Unisex Swab Collection Kit (T583)

Container/Tube: Aptima Unisex Swab

Specimen Volume: Swab

Collection Instructions:

1. Specimens must be collected using the Aptima Unisex Swab Collection Kit.

2. Use cleaning swab (white shaft) to remove excess mucus from endocervix/cervix.

3. Discard the cleaning swab.

4. Insert second swab (blue shaft) 1 to 1.5 cm into endocervical canal and rotate swab gently for 30 seconds. Avoid touching vaginal wall when removing swab.

5. Place second swab into transport tube provided in collection kit.

6. Snap off swab at score line so swab fits into closed tube.

7. Cap tube securely, and label tube with patient's entire name and collection date and time.

8. Maintain swab container at 2 to 30° C (refrigerate temperature is preferred) and transport within 60 days of collection. If longer storage is needed, freeze at -20 to -70° C for 12 months.

Specimen Type: Vaginal

Supplies: Swab, Aptima Multitest Swab Collection Kit (T584)

Container/Tube: Aptima Multitest Swab

Specimen Volume: Swab

Collection Instructions:

1. Specimens must be collected using the Aptima Multitest Swab Specimen Collection Kit.

2. Insert swab (pink shaft) about 5 cm past introitus and rotate gently for 30 seconds.

3. Place swab into transport tube provided in collection kit. Snap off swab at score line so swab fits into closed tube.

4. Cap tube securely, and label tube with patient's entire name, and collection date and time.

5. Maintain swab container at 2 to 30° C (refrigerate temperature is preferred) and transport within 60 days of collection. If longer storage is needed, freeze at -20 to -70° C for 12 months.

Specimen Type: Urethra (Males Only)

Supplies: Swab, Aptima Unisex Swab Collection Kit (T583)

Container/Tube: Aptima Unisex Swab

Specimen Volume: Swab

Collection Instructions:

1. Specimens must be collected using the Aptima Unisex Swab Collection Kit.

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

3. With a rotating movement, insert swab (blue shaft) 2 to 4 cm into urethra.

4. Once inserted, rotate swab gently at least 1 full rotation using sufficient pressure to ensure swab comes into contact with all urethral surfaces. Allow swab to remain inserted for 2 to 3 seconds.

5. Place swab in transport tube provided in collection kit. Snap off swab at score line so swab fits into closed tube.

6. Cap tube securely, and label tube with patient's entire name and collection date, and time.

7. Maintain swab container at 2 to 30° C (refrigerate temperature is preferred) and transport within 60 days of collection. If longer storage is needed, freeze at -20 to -70° C for 12 months.

Specimen Type: Urine

Supplies: Aptima Urine Transport Tube (T582)

Container/Tube: Aptima urine specimen transport tube

Specimen Volume: 15 to 20 mL

Collection Instructions:

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

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

3. Within 24 hours of collection, transfer 2 mL of urine into the urine specimen transport tube using the disposable pipette provided. The correct volume of urine has been added when the fluid level is between the black fill lines on the urine transport tube.

4. Place the labels on the transport tube so the black fill lines are still visible for volume confirmation at Mayo Clinic Laboratories.

5. Maintain urine specimen transport tube at 2 to 30° C (refrigerate temperature is preferred) and transport within 30 days of collection. If longer storage is needed, freeze at -20 to -70° C for 12 months.

Specimen Type: ThinPrep Specimen (Endocervix/cervix)

Supplies: Aptima Thin Prep Transport Tube (T652)

Container/Tube: ThinPrep collection kit

Specimen Volume: 1 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Collect ThinPrep sample as per normal collection process.

2. ThinPrep specimen must be aliquoted (as outlined below) before it is processed/tested for Papanicolaou test (Pap smear).

3. Vortex ThinPrep/PreservCyt vial 3 to 10 seconds. Within 1 minute of vortexing:

a. Transfer 1 mL of specimen into the Aptima ThinPrep Transport Tube (ie, specimen transfer tube) using a disposable transfer pipette or a pipette tip containing a filter (aerosol barrier or hydrophobic plug).

b. Process only 1 ThinPrep and transfer tube set at a time.

c. Recap Aptima specimen transfer tube tightly and gently invert 3 times to mix.

4. Label Aptima transfer tube with appropriate label.

5. Use remainder of ThinPrep specimen for Papanicolaou testing.

6. Maintain specimen transport tube at 2 to 8° C (refrigerate temperature is preferred) and transport within 30 days of collection, or within 14 days if stored at 15 to 30° C. If longer storage is needed, freeze at -20 to -70° C for 12 months.

Specimen Type: Oropharynx/pharynx/throat

Supplies: Swab, Aptima Multitest Swab Collection Kit (T584)

Container/Tube: Aptima Multitest Swab

Specimen Volume: Swab

Collection Instructions:

1. Specimens must be collected using the Aptima Multitest Swab Specimen Collection Kit.

2. Swab site using Aptima Collection Multitest Swab (pink shaft).

3. Place collection swab in transport tube provided in collection kit. Snap off swab at score line so swab fits into closed tube.

4. Cap tube securely and label tube with patient's entire name and collection date and time.

5. Maintain swab container at either 4 to 30° C (refrigerated temperature is preferred) or -20 to -70° C, and transport within 60 days of collection.

Specimen Type: Rectal/anal

Supplies: Swab, Aptima Multitest Swab Collection Kit (T584)

Container/Tube: Aptima Multitest Swab

Specimen Volume: Swab

Collection Instructions:

1. Specimens must be collected using the Aptima Multitest Swab Specimen Collection Kit.

2. Insert swab into rectum about 3 to 5 cm past anal margin and gently rotate swab for 10 seconds.

3. Place collection swab in transport tube provided in collection kit. Snap off swab at score line so swab fits into closed tube.

4. Cap tube securely, and label tube with patient's entire name and collection date and time.

5. Maintain swab container at either 4 to 30° C (refrigerate temperature is preferred) or -20 to -70° C and transport within 60 days of collection.