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of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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    Influenza Virus Culture Submission Procedures for Physicians and Laboratories Not Enrolled in the Influenza Sentinel Program

    The Bureau of Laboratories (BOL) will provide collections kits and prepaid shipping containers upon request from a physician or laboratory. Physicians and laboratories may use their own collection kits and mailers if they do not have BOL supplies on hand. Collect a nasal, nasopharyngeal, or throat specimen using a standard viral culturette or a sterile swab placed in viral transport medium. Fill out a Specimen Submission Form completely. Age, county of residence, sex and date of collection are required. Put the patient name/ID on the specimen.  Please ensure that the identification information on the specimen tube is identical to the information filled on the form.  . Wrap the specimen with absorbent material, e.g., paper towels, and place it into the main compartment of the biohazard bag (one per bag) then seal the zip-lock. Place the Specimen Submission Form into the outer slot of the bag.

    Viral Testing Respiratory Swab Collection and Shipping Instructions

    Do not place the Specimen Submission Form in the compartment with the specimen.
    Refrigerate the specimen at 2-8°C until transport to the BOL.
    Ship specimens as soon as possible after collection (within 48 hours). Specimens must be kept cold until they reach the laboratory. Refrigerate specimens if they will not be shipped immediately. Ship specimens in an insulated (Styrofoam) container with cold packs (frozen before shipment). Do not use wet ice (ice cubes or crushed ice).

    Ship specimens to:
    Pennsylvania Department of Health
    Bureau of Laboratories
    110 Pickering Way
    Exton, PA 19341-1310
    Please print your return address on the label.
    If you have any questions, please contact Hephzibah Tagaram at 484-870-6380, or by e-mail at htagaram@pa.gov

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