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ADDRESS
Sanford Laboratories
PO Box 5056
Sioux Falls, SD 57117-5056
PHONE
605-328-5464
800-522-2561
FAX
605-328-5434
E-MAIL
E-mail Sanford Laboratories
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| Viral Specimen Collection |
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Viral transport media is required for viral cultures and is available from our Supplies Department. The inoculated swab should be placed in viral transport medium immediately after collection. The swab should remain in the medium for 30 minutes. Then vortex the specimen for 20-30 seconds and remove the swab from the transport medium and firmly roll swab against the inside of the vial to remove as much liquid as possible. Discard the swab. Refrigerate all viral specimens at 4°C immediately after collection. Do not freeze. If a viral culturette is used, crush the ampule to moisten the swab. Refrigerate. Submit all specimens with an Infectious Disease requisition containing complete requested patient information. Indicate source, date, and time on the requisition.
CSF
Submit 1 mL CSF in a sterile, leak-proof container.
NASOPHARYNGEAL WASHING- With the patient lying down, tilt the head back slightly.
- Slowly drip sterile saline into the nostril, a few drops at a time, until a total of at least 5 mL have been used.
- As you are dripping the saline, suction the wash back out using a bulb syringe or DeLee tube.
- Repeat the procedure, if necessary, until about 2 mL of fluid have been collected. The fluid should be cloudy with some mucus present.
- Submit washings in viral transport media.
NOTE: Sputum is not recommended for respiratory viral testing because it does not contain adequate cells.
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Stool
Submit pea-sized portion of stool in viral transport media. Refrigerate.
Urine
Submit 5-10 mL of a freshly voided urine in a sterile, leakproof container and 2 mL of urine in viral transport media. A fresh morning urine is preferred. Refrigerate.
Cytomegalovirus
Blood, bronchial lavage, bronchial washings, lung tissue, throat, and urine are appropriate specimens for cytomegalovirus testing. Refer to specific testing method for recommended specimen type.
Viral Cultures
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| Virus |
Specimen |
| Adenovirus |
CSF, eye swab, nasopharyngeal washing, stool, throat swab, or urine |
| Coxsackie A & B |
CSF, pericardial fluid, stool, throat, or vesicle fluid |
| Echovirus (Coxsackie, Echo, & Polio) |
CSF, pericardial fluid, stool, throat, or vesicle fluid |
| Herpes simplex |
Brain, CSF, eye, genital, throat swab, tissue biopsy, or vesicular fluid |
| Influenza A & B |
NP washing or throat swab |
| Parainfluenza 1,2,3,4 |
NP swab or washing, or throat |
| Poliovirus |
CSF, stool, or throat swab |
| Respiratory Syncytial Virus |
Not recommended if specimen transport requires >30 minutes to the laboratory. See RSV by DFA. |
| Varicella zoster |
CSF, lesion, or vesicle |
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