Shipping specimens

  • Optimally, pretreatment or early treatment samples will enhance the diagnosis. Therefore, provision of such samples is recommended and needs to be accompanied with a Test Request Form.
  • All specimens must be labeled with the patient's name and collection date.
  • A RegaVir Test Request Form must accompany each specimen. Please use a separate Test Request Form for each specimen when sending multiple specimens.
  • The name and address of the Requesting Doctor(s) / Laboratory must be provided on the package.

shipping specimens shipping specimens

Type of specimens that can be sent

  • Whole Blood: 3 to 5 ml collected in EDTA or heparin tube. Do not freeze; ship refrigerated.
  • Bone Marrow: 1 ml minimum, collected in EDTA or heparin tube. Do not freeze; ship refrigerated.
  • Bronchial Lavage/Bronchial Wash: 1 to 3 ml, collected in sterile, screw-cap tube; ship refrigerated.
  • CSF: 1 ml minimum, submitted in sterile, screw-cap tube; ship refrigerated.
  • Pleural Fluid: 1 ml submitted in a sterile, screw-top tube; ship refrigerated.
  • Tissue: Place fresh biopsy in a sterile, screw-cap tube; add a small amount of saline to keep moist; ship refrigerated.
  • Upper respiratory aspirate (NP aspirate, nasal aspirate, tracheal aspirate, etc.): Instill 1 to 2 ml sterile saline into desired location and gently aspirate contents. Place collected fluid into sterile, screw-cap tube; ship refrigerated.
  • Swab (NP swab, throat swab, etc): Swab the desired location with sterile, flexible swab, preferably a flocked swab. Place swab into 1 to 2 ml sterile saline, or viral transport media in sterile, screw-cap tube. Do not use calcium alginate swab or wood shafted swab; ship refrigerated.
  • Urine: 5 to 10 ml sample collected in a sterile urinalysis container. Transfer to a 15 ml sterile, screw-cap tube; ship refrigerated.
  • Vitreous Fluid: Place collected vitreous fluid into small, sterile, screw-cap tube; ship refrigerated.
  • Viral culture: Culture supernatant or infected cells; ship refrigerated.
After sample collection, please store the specimens a.s.a.p. cooled (max. 4°C) and ship refrigerated.

Longer storage on room temperature diminishes successful genotyping analysis.

Ship specimens to:

RegaVir
Rega Institute for Medical Research
Minderbroedersstraat 10
B-3000, Leuven
Belgium