Specimen Requirements

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Acceptable Specimens:
Female:  Endocervical, vaginal (patient-collected), or first catch urine

Male: First catch urine

Endocervical (Clinician-collected)

Collect specimen using Xpert Vaginal/Endocervical Collection System supplied as follows:

1. Use large individually wrapped cleaning swab to remove excess mucus from endocervix and discard.

2. Open the package that contains the pink-capped Xpert Swab Transport Reagent tube and indivdually wrapped collection swab.  Set the tube aside before proceeding.

3. Remove the swab, taking care not to touch the tip or lay it down.  If the soft tip is touched, the wab is laid down, or the swab is dropped, request a new collection kit.

4. Insert the collection swab into the endocervical canal.

5. Gently rotate the swab clockwise for 10-30 seconds in the endocervical canal to ensure adequate sampling and withdraw the swab carefully.

6. Insert the swab into the Xpert Swab Transport Reagent tube.  Do not spill the contents of the tube.  If the contents of the tube are spilled, request a new collection kit.

8. Carefully break the swab shaft against the side of the tube at the scoreline and discard the top portion of the swab shaft.

9. Re-cap the swab transport reagent tube and tighten the cap securely.

10. Invert or gently shake 3-4 times to elute material from the swab.  Avoid foaming.

11. Label the transport tube with sample identification information, including date of collection, and type of specimen.

12. Send specimen at room temperature or refrigerated and forward promptly.

Note:  Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

Vaginal (patient-collected)

Collect specimen using Xpert Vaginal/Endocervical specimen collection kit supplied as follows:

1. Wash hands before starting.

2. Open the outer peelpack (which contains the two-package kit), and identify the larger cleaning swab and discard.

3. Open the package that contains the pink-capped Xpert Swab Transport Reagent tube and individually wrapped collection swab.  Set the tube aside before beginning to collect sample.

4. Open the collection swab wrapper by peeling open the top of the wrapper.

5. Remove the swab, taking care not to touch the tip or lay it down. If the soft tip is touched, the swab is laid down, or the swab is dropped, request a new collection kit.

6. Hold the swab in your hand, placing your thumb and forefinger in the middle of the swab shaft.

7. Carefully insert the swab into your vagina about two inches (5 cm) inside the opening of the vagina and gently rotate the swab for 10 to 30 seconds. Ensure the swab touches the walls of the vagina so that moisture is absorbed by the swab and withdraw the swab carefully.

8. While holding the swab in the same hand, unscrew the cap from the Xpert Swab Transport Reagent tube.

• If the contents of the tube are spilled on your skin, wash the affected area with soap and water. If the contents of the tube are splashed in your eyes, immediately flush your eyes with water. Notify your doctor, nurse, or care-provider if irritation develops. If the contents of the tube are spilled, your test result may be invalidated. Do not take internally.

9. Do not spill the contents of the tube. If the contents of the tube are spilled, request a new collection kit.

10. Immediately place the specimen collection swab into the transport reagent tube.

11. Identify the scoreline on the collection swab shaft. Carefully break the swab shaft against the side of the tube at the scoreline and discard the top portion of the swab shaft; use care to avoid splashing contents.

12. Re-cap the swab transport reagent tube and tighten the cap securely.

13. Invert or gently shake the tube 3-4 times to elute material from the swab. Avoid foaming.

14. Label the transport tube with sample identification information, including date of collection, and type of specimen.

15. Return the tube as instructed by your doctor, nurse, or care-provider. Send specimen at room temperature or refrigerated and forward promptly.
Note:  Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

Urine

Collect specimen using Xpert Urine specimen collection kit supplied as follows:

1. Patient should not have urinated for at least 1 hour prior to collection. Female patients should NOT cleanse the labial area prior to collecting the specimen.

2. Patient should collect first portion (approximately 20 mL to 50 mL) of a voided urine (first part of stream-not midstream) into a screw-capped, sterile, plastic, preservative-free specimen collection container.

3. Mix the urine cup well before transferring a sample to the Xpert Urine Transport Reagent tube. Transfer approximately 7 mL of urine into the Xpert Urine Transport Reagent tube using the disposable transfer pipette to fill to the black dashed line on the label.

4. Invert the collection tube 3-4 times to ensure that the specimen and reagent are well mixed.

5. Label the transport tube with sample identification information, including date of collection, and type of specimen.

Note:  Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

Specimen Storage and Temperature

Endocervical/Vaginal swabs – 60 days refrigerated or room temperature

Female/Male Urine (fresh) – 4 hours room temperature or 4 days refrigerated

Female/Male Urine (preserved in Xpert Urine Transport Reagent tube) – 28 days refrigerated or 14 days room temperature