Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), lesion or dermal specimen, ocular, cervical, rectal, urethral, vaginal, or specimen from other genital sites. Place CSF in a sterile screw-top vial. Place any other specimen in MicroTest M4RT or M4 transport medium. Break off swab and leave in medium.
Handling:
Refrigerate or freeze CSF within 30 minutes. Do not centrifuge CSF. Maintain sterility and handle in an environment where HSV DNA contamination is not likely. Refrigerate any other specimen within 2 hours of collection. If transport is delayed, CSF or any specimen collected in M4RT or M4 may be frozen at –70° C. Specimen other than CSF not collected in M4RT or M4 transport media should reach the testing department within 2 hours of collection.
Stability:
72 hours refrigerated or 3 months frozen. Specimen unstable ambient.
Standard Volume:
1 mL CSF.
Minimum Volume:
0.5 mL CSF.
Transport:
Refrigerated, or frozen on dry ice.
Comments:
Positive results are reported as “HSV Type 1 DNA Detected,” or “HSV Type 2 DNA Detected,” or “Type Indeterminate.”
Rejection Criteria:
Specimen not maintained or transported at temperature requirements described above; centrifuged CSF; grossly hemolyzed CSF (blood may inhibit PCR and lead to false negative results).
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