• The specimen must be properly identified.
  
• The patient's name, hospital number or the unique identifier must be clearly written on the specimen container.
  
• The appropriate test requisition, complete with the patient's name or unique identifier must accompany the specimen.
  
• Unlabeled or mislabeled specimens will not be tested.
  
• Please submit specimens in the appropriate transport containers per Federal Postal Regulations and/or United Parcel Service/Federal Express guidelines for the transporting of specimens.

The shipper is responsible for being sure that their package is in compliance with current regulations.

Please refer to our list of clinical specimen units to determine the proper transport container.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COLLECTION AND PACKAGING

To review the instructions for collection and packaging of specimens for transport to the Bureau of Laboratories, select from the list below. Note: These are in PDF Format.

• Amplified, Non-Culture N. gonorrhoeae & C. trachomatis - swab specimen DCH-0974
• Amplified, Non-Culture N. gonorrhoeae & C. trachomatis - urine specimen DCH-0975
• Blood Lead Testing DCH-0575- updated 9/4/2008
• Blood Lead Specimens Collected on Filter Paper DCH-1296
• Bordetella pertussis by Culture, Isolation and PCR DCH-0881
• Breast Milk, PBB, PCB, Pesticide Testing DCH-0571
• CD4/CD8 Testing DCH-0562
• Chemical Event DCH-1334
• Chlamydia Culture/Isolation DCH-0882- updated 9/5/2008 
• Dark Field Examination & Syphilis Serology DCH-0880
• Enteric Bacterial Culture - English version DCH-0596 - updated 9/5/2008    
• Food Borne Illness DCH-0883- updated 9/5/2008 
• Fungal Examination - Specimen Submission DCH-0721 - updated 9/5/2008   
• HIV Direct Detection by PCR DCH-0884- updated 9/5/2008 
• HIV-1 Genotyping DCH-1187
• Influenza Sentinel Physician Specimen Submission  DCH-0772S  - updated 9/5/2008   

• LGV Study
       LGV Surveillance Letter
       LGV Specimen Collection and Shipping Instructions
       MDCH Micobiology/Virology Form DCH-0583
       LGV Study Case-Patient Information Form
       CDC Submission Form - CDC 50.34
       MMWR Oct. 29, 2004 53(42); 985-988

• Mycobacteria Examination - Specimen Submission DCH-0721- updated 9/5/2008 
• Norovirus DCH-0723 - updated 9/5/2008   
• Orasure Specimen Collection & Submission DCH-1178
• Parasitology (Fecal) DCH-0596- updated 9/5/2008 
• Rabies (Animal Testing) DCH-0676
• Referred Cultures - Bacterial/Fungal/Yeast DCH-0597
• Serum Submission - Bacterial/Viral/Fungal DCH-0811- updated 9/5/2008 
• Trace Metals Analysis - DCH-0976
• Vaccinia/Variola/Pox Virus Specimen Collection and Submission Form and Instructions DCH-1396 - updated 1/16/2008
• Viral Load Testing for HIV-1 DCH-0562
• Viral PCR DCH-0772 - updated 3/30/2009
• Virus Isolation Specimen Submission DCH-0772- updated 10/1/2009

Blood Lead Specimens - Capillary/venous collection procedures are available by contacting Craig Fedewa at the MDCH Lab Support Unit; phone 517-335-9040, fax 517-335-9039 or E-mail FedewaC@michigan.gov.

Rev. 10/5/2009