Specimen Requirements

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Preferred:

Spinal Fluid

1 mL of spinal fluid collected by a physician in a screw capped, sterile vial. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

Note:

• Patient’s age is required on request form for processing.
• Indicate spinal fluid on request form.
• Label specimen appropriately (spinal fluid).

Alternate:

Serum

Draw blood in a plain, red top tube or a serum gel tube. Spin down and send 1 mL (minimum volume:  0.5 mL) of serum refrigerated.

Note:  

• Patient’s age is required on request form for processing.
• Indicate serum on request form.
• Label specimen appropriately (serum).

Urine

10 mL (minimum volume:  1 mL) of urine. Send specimen in a plastic, screw capped urine container. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

Note:  

• Patient’s age is required on request form for processing.
• Indicate urine on request form.
• Label specimen appropriately (urine).