Table 1: Table shows various types of specimens taken for COVID-19 patients and their appropriate temperature for transport and storage.
Specimen Type | Collection Material | Transport to Laboratory | Storage Until Testing |
Nasopharyngeal and Oropharyngeal Swabs | Dacron or polyester flocked swabs | 2-8 °C | < 5 d, 2-8 °C > 5 d, -70 °C (dry ice) |
Bronchoalveolar lavages | Sterile container | 2-8 °C | < 48 h, 2-8 °C > 48 h, -70 °C (dry ice) |
Endotracheal aspirates, nasopharyngeal or nasal wash | Sterile container | 2-8 °C | < 48 h, 2-8 °C > 48 h, -70 °C (dry ice) |
Sputum | Sterile container | 2-8 °C | < 48 h, 2-8 °C > 48 h, -70 °C (dry ice) |
Tissue from biopsy or autopsy including from the lung | Sterile container with saline | 2-8 °C | < 24 h, 2-8 °C > 24 h, -70 °C (dry ice) |
Serum | Serum separator tubes (in adults collect 3-5 ml whole blood) | 2-8 °C | < 5 d, 2-8 °C > 5 d, -70 °C (dry ice) |
Whole blood | Collection tube | 2-8 °C | < 5 d, 2-8 °C > 5 d, -70 °C (dry ice) |
Stool | Stool container | 2-8 °C | < 5 d, 2-8 °C > 5 d, -70 °C (dry ice) |
Urine | Urine collection container | 2-8 °C | < 5 d, 2-8 °C > 5 d, -70 °C (dry ice) |