Specimen Stability (for laboratory use only)
Collection Container
Dacron tipped swabs
Service Code:
Service code pending
Collection Instructions:
Submit one of the following: Swab, cerebrospinal fluid, vitreous or eye tap OR urine. If CMV qualitative PCR is required for blood specimens, to seek approval of referral laboratory's microbiologists. Else, order CMV quantitative PCR instead.
For swab collection:
1. Use only Dacron-tipped swabs. Send in swab sheath without any medium.
2. Chill specimen immediately in either crushed ice or an ice pack. The coolant must cover the specimen level in the tube.
3. Send specimen to the laboratory immediately.
For cerebrospinal fluid, vitreous or eye tap collection:
1. Collect fluid into a sterile screw capped container.
2. Chill specimen immediately in either crushed ice or an ice pack. The coolant must cover the specimen level in the tube.
3. Send specimen to the laboratory immediately.
For urine collection:
1. Refer to https://www.wh.com.sg/labs/Specimens/Pages/Specimens-Collection.aspx for collection of urine.
2. Collect midstream urine in sterile screw capped container
3. Chill specimen immediately in either crushed ice or an ice pack. The coolant must cover the specimen level in the tube.
4. Send specimen to the laboratory immediately.
For swab collection:
1. Use only Dacron-tipped swabs. Send in swab sheath without any medium.
2. Chill specimen immediately in either crushed ice or an ice pack. The coolant must cover the specimen level in the tube.
3. Send specimen to the laboratory immediately.
For cerebrospinal fluid, vitreous or eye tap collection:
1. Collect fluid into a sterile screw capped container.
2. Chill specimen immediately in either crushed ice or an ice pack. The coolant must cover the specimen level in the tube.
3. Send specimen to the laboratory immediately.
For urine collection:
1. Refer to https://www.wh.com.sg/labs/Specimens/Pages/Specimens-Collection.aspx for collection of urine.
2. Collect midstream urine in sterile screw capped container
3. Chill specimen immediately in either crushed ice or an ice pack. The coolant must cover the specimen level in the tube.
4. Send specimen to the laboratory immediately.
Refer to testing laboratory test catalogue for more information:
https://www.sgh.com.sg/patient-care/specialties-services/Pathology/Pages/CYTOMEGALOVIRUS-CMV-PCR-QUALITATIVE.aspx
Unacceptable Conditions:
N.A.
Specimen Stability:
Ambient
Send specimen to the laboratory immediately
Refrigerate
Frozen
Performance
Turn Around Time:
5 days
Days Test Performed:
Testing Laboratory:
Singapore General Hospital (SGH), Molecular Diagnostic - Microbiology
Clinical & Interpretative
Description:
Methodology:
Real-time polymerase chain reaction (in-house)
Reference Interval:
See laboratory report
Critical Values:
N.A.
