Specimen Requirements

Nasopharyngeal swab placed in Regan-Lowe transport medium, bend wire over lip and recap the vial and wrap with parafilm, do not cut wire. (Regan-Lowe transport medium can be ordered from Rice Lab)

Nasal aspirate added to Regan-Lowe medium, stab the medium with device used to transfer the aspirate to the medium, recap the vial    

If Regan-Lowe transport medium is not available, a nasopharyngeal swab, dry is acceptable. Viral Transport Media with nasopharyngeal swab is also accceptable. COPAN blue capped swabs supplied by MDH or Dacron swab.  Do not use calcium alginate swab.

Specimens must reach the MDH within 4 days of collection.

Specimens transported from Carris Rice to MDH Mon-Fri at 10:15 a.m.  If collected after courier time Thursday, facilities must transport to Carris Rice by 10:00 a.m. Friday.  (Keep in mind no transport to MDH on holidays).