COVID-19 Virus Testing by RT-PCR

• Oropharyngeal (OP) collection in viral transport medium, ESwab™, or saline. Nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs also accepted in viral transport medium (discard OP swab included with viral transport medium), ESwab™, or saline. OP or NP washes/aspirates in sterile cups. Bronchial washing or bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) specimens in sterile cups.

• Additional specimens accepted include mid-turbinate swabs, nasal swabs, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and nasopharyngeal aspirate (nasal aspirate).

Specimen Collection

• Any swab of appropriate size and configuration with a synthetic tip and shaft can be used except for calcium alginate tips, swabs with preservatives, and swabs with wood or paper shafts. 

• Viral transport medium acceptable for collection of influenza specimens in 1 mL or 3 mL volumes can be used to transport swabs for COVID-19 testing. 

• For swabs in saline: 

• OP or NP swabs may be placed in 1 to 3 mL of sterile saline (0.85 to 0.9%) in a sterile screw cap container. 

• Do not use vacutainer or "pop-top" tubes. 

• Sterile cups are acceptable for OP or NP washes/aspirates, bronchial washings, or bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) specimens.

Reporting

• Not Detected, Detected, Indeterminate, Invalid, Quantity not Sufficient (QNS)