Necessary Information

Specimen source is required.

Specimen Required

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Specimen Type: Endocervix/Cervix

Supplies: Aptima Unisex Swab Collection Kit (T583)

Container/Tube: Aptima Unisex Swab

Specimen Volume: 1 Swab

Collection Instructions:

1. Specimens must be collected using the Aptima Unisex Swab Collection Kit.

2. Use cleaning swab (white shaft) to remove excess mucus from endocervix/cervix.

Discard the cleaning swab.

3. Insert second swab (blue shaft) 1 to 1.5 cm into endocervical canal, and rotate swab gently for 30 seconds. Avoid touching vaginal wall when removing swab.

4. Place blue swab into Aptima transport tube provided in collection kit.

5. Snap off blue swab at score line so it fits into closed tube.

7. Cap tube securely and label tube with patient's entire name and collection date and time.

8. Maintain swab container at 2 to 30° C (refrigerate temperature is preferred), transport within 60 days of collection.

Specimen Type: Vaginal

Supplies: Aptima Multitest Swab Collection Kit (T584)

Container/Tube: Aptima Multitest Swab

Specimen Volume: 1 Swab

Collection Instructions:

1. Specimens must be collected using the Aptima Multitest Swab Collection Kit.

2. Insert swab (pink shaft) about 5 cm past introitus and rotate gently for 30 seconds.

3. Place pink swab into Aptima transport tube provided in collection kit.

4. Snap off pink swab at score line so it fits into closed tube.

5. Cap tube securely and label tube with patient's entire name and collection date and time.

6. Maintain swab container at 2 to 30° C (refrigerate temperature is preferred), transport within 60 days of collection.

Specimen Type: ThinPrep Specimen (Endocervix/Cervix)

Supplies: Aptima Specimen Transfer Kit (T652)

Container/Tube: Aptima specimen transfer tube

Specimen Volume: 1 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Collect ThinPrep sample as per normal collection process.

2. ThinPrep specimen must be aliquoted (as outlined below) before it is processed/tested for Papanicolaou testing (Pap smear).

3. Vortex ThinPrep/PreservCyt vial 3 to 10 seconds.

4. Within 1 minute of vortexing:

a. Transfer 1 mL of specimen into the Aptima specimen transfer tube using a disposable transfer pipette or a pipette tip containing a filter (aerosol barrier or hydrophobic plug).

b. Process only 1 ThinPrep and transfer tube set at a time.

c. Recap Aptima specimen transfer tube tightly and gently invert 3 times to mix.

4. Label Aptima transfer tube with appropriate label.

5. Use remainder of ThinPrep specimen for Pap testing.

6. Maintain specimen transport tube at 2 to 30° C (refrigerate temperature is preferred), transport within 30 days of collection when stored at 2 to 14° C or within 14 days when stored at 15 to 30° C.

Specimen Type: Urine

Supplies: Aptima Urine Transport Tube (T582)

Container/Tube: Aptima urine specimen transport tube

Specimen Volume: 15 to 20 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Patient should not have urinated for at least 1 hour prior to specimen collection.

2. Patient should collect first portion of random voided urine (first part of stream) into a sterile, plastic, preservative-free container.

3. Within 24 hours of collection, transfer 2 mL of urine into the Aptima urine specimen transport tube using the disposable pipette provided. The correct volume of urine has been added when the fluid level is between the black fill lines on the Aptima urine transport tube.

4. Maintain Aptima urine specimen transport tube at 2 to 30° C (refrigerate temperature is preferred), transport within 30 days of collection.