Specimen Requirements

Specimen must arrive within 30 minutes of collection if not added to a collection vial.

Submit stool specimen in a clean, leakproof container. Collect specimen as follows:
1. Lift toilet seat, and cover toilet bowl with a large sheet of plastic wrap. Make a depression in plastic wrap. With toilet seat lowered, pass stool specimen directly onto plastic wrap. (Rectal swab is not acceptable.)
2. Alternatively, collect stool specimen in a clean, dry, wide-mouth container. Do not use toilet paper to collect specimen. Do not remove specimen from toilet water.
3. Specimen may also be submitted in an O&P collection vial supplied. Follow instructions accompanying the vial(s) for collection procedure.

4. Label container/vial(s) with patient’s information, date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.

5. Forward specimen promptly.

Note:  1. Maximum storage for fresh specimens is 2 hours at ambient temperature or 48 hours refrigerated. Maximum storage for specimens in an O&P vial at ambient temperature is 2 months or until the expiration date on vial(s), whichever is earlier.

2. Specimen will not be processed if transport/storage requirements are exceeded.