Urine, fluid, throat wash, semen, tissue biopsy, stool, bronch wash, vesicles, or swab specimens. Immediately after collection, place all in MicroTest (M4RT) transport media. Break off swab and leave in media.
Handling:
Specimen should be placed on wet ice immediately after collection and held at 2-8° C until transport. SPECIMENS FOR CYTOMEGALOVIRUS SHOULD NOT BE FROZEN. Transport specimen immediately after collection. Ideally, specimen collected in MicroTest (M4RT) transport media should reach the testing department within 24 hours of collection. If transport is delayed, specimen collected in MicroTest (M4RT) transport media may be held at refrigerated temperature for 72 hours. Specimens not collected in MicroTest (M4RT) transport media should reach the testing department within 2 hours.
Minimum Volume:
2 mL, if urine.
Transport:
Refrigerated.
Comments:
Brochure provided with MicroTest (M4RT) transport media contains instructions for collection; or refer to the Microbiology section of the User Guide for special specimen collection instructions. For CSF samples, order Cytomegalovirus by PCR (83580) which is a more sensitive method for detection of CMB viremia and central nervous system infections, especially in the immunocompromised patient.
Rejection Criteria:
Delayed transport; specimen held at ambient temperature more than 2 hours; specimen in MicroTest (M4RT) transport media held at refrigerated temperature more than 72 hours; frozen specimen; specimen received on a dry swab not in MicroTest (M4RT) transport media; specimen collected with a wooden swab or calcium alginate swab; CSF specimen.