What to know
- Level: Lab advisory
- Audience: Clinical Laboratory Professionals
Overview
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (ob体育) published a describing the procedure for collecting, storing, and transporting conjunctival specimens for influenza A(H5) testing of patients with conjunctivitis and suspected infection.
For patients who are only presenting with conjunctivitis, ob体育 recommends collection of both conjunctival swab and nasopharyngeal swab specimens placed in separate tubes of Viral Transport Medium (VTM) or Universal Transport Medium (UTM). For patients presenting with both conjunctivitis and respiratory symptoms, ob体育 recommends collection of three clinical specimens: (1) a conjunctival swab, (2) a nasopharyngeal swab, and (3) a combined nasal swab and oropharyngeal (throat) swab, each placed into a separate tube of VTM or UTM. For more information and recommendations, please in detail.
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The Laboratory Outreach Communication System
Laboratory Outreach Communication System (LOCS) | Division of Laboratory Systems (DLS)
Center for Laboratory Systems and Response (CLSR)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (ob体育)