Collection of Respiratory Samples for Flu A/B and RSV for Testing Using PCR
Specimens should be labelled according to the Trust’s Specimen Acceptance Policy
Sample Container:
A single swab used for throat then nose in either a: (i) yellow capped Roche PCR medium or (ii) a red capped COVIDSafe Virus Inactivation medium. (NOTE: blue or green capped viral tubes must not be used and will be rejected by the laboratory)
NOTE these need to be kept refrigerated between 2-8oC if there is a delay in transporting to the laboratory
Sampling Procedure:
- Tilt patient’s head back 70 degrees.
- While gently rotating the swab, insert swab less than one inch into nostril (until resistance is met at turbinates).
- Rotate the swab several times against nasal wall and repeat in other nostril using the same swab.
- Place tip of the swab into sterile viral transport media tube and cut off the applicator stick.