Physician Office Specimen Requirements

1. Collect specimen using BD Affirm^TM VPIII swab collection system.

2. Remove excess mucus, secretion, or discharge.
3. Swab genital area with sterile culture transport swab.
4. Return swab to sterile culture transport tube to ensure specimen preservation.
5. Label tube with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.
6. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature. If there is a delay in transport of  >3 days, send specimen refrigerated.

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