Specimen Collection and Shipping Instructions

The MDHHS Bureau of Laboratories can provide shipping containers and supplies for many of the specimens that are sent to our laboratory for testing. Collection tubes and transport media are also available. 

To order available supplies, create an account and/or log in to the Laboratory Kit Order Tracking System (LKOTS) or send a completed Requisition for Clinical Specimen Containers (DCH-0568) to MDHHSLab@michigan.gov.

When collecting clinical specimens for testing at the Bureau of Laboratories please keep in mind:

• Good laboratory practice requires the collector to verify the patient's identity at the time the specimen is collected. A best practice is for the collector to ask patients to spell their first and last names every time.
• The patient's name (first and last) AND a second identifier must be clearly written on the specimen container.
• The second identifier can be a hospital number, date of birth, or another unique identifier. Date of collection is not considered a unique identifier.
• The appropriate test requisition, complete with the patient's name and unique identifier, must be sent with the specimen.
• The information on the test requisition must match the container exactly.
• Specimens that are unlabeled, mislabeled, or that do not meet the acceptable criteria for the test requested (e.g. temperature, specimen source) will not be tested.
• Specimens must be properly packaged and shipped in appropriate containers that follow US Department of Transportation regulations, Postal Service regulations, and/or United Parcel Service/FedEx guidelines for transporting hazardous materials.

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

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COLLECTION AND PACKING

To review the instructions for collection and packing 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/T. vaginalis - swab specimen (other than vaginal, see below) DCH-0973 (Rev. 5-13-22)
• Amplified, Non-Culture N. gonorrhoeae/C. trachomatis/T. vaginalis - urine specimen DCH-0975 (Rev. 5-13-22)
• Amplified, Non-Culture N. gonorrhoeae/C. trachomatis/T. vaginalis - vaginal, rectal, or throat swabs DCH-0972 (Rev. 5-13-22)
• Amplified, Non-Culture N. gonorrhoeae/C. trachomatis/T. vaginalis - patient self-collected vaginal swabs DCH-0972S (updated 3-24-22)
• Blood Lead Testing DCH-0575 (Rev. 1-25)
• Bordetella pertussis by Culture, Isolation and PCR DCH-0881 (Rev. 11-17)
• CD4/CD8 Testing DCH-0562 (Rev. 11-26-23)  
• Chemical Event DCH-1334 (Rev. 9-24)
• Direct Fluorescent Antibody Test for Treponema pallidum DCH-0880 (Rev. 3-5-12)
• Enteric Bacterial Culture DCH-0596 (Rev. 11-17)  
• Food Borne Illness DCH-0883 (Rev. 6-26-12)
• Microbiology Chain of Custody for Clinical Testing MDHHS-6049 (Rev. 9-23)
• Mycobacteria, Culture and Direct Smear DCH-0721 (Rev. 4-23)
• NBS Collection Device Instructions (updated 5-2-25)
• Norovirus DCH-0723 (Rev. 6-25-18)
• Parasitology (Fecal) DCH-0596 (Rev. 11-17)
• Rabies (Animal Testing) DCH-1053 (Rev. 11-22)
• Referred Cultures - Bacterial/Mycobacterial/Fungal DCH-0597 (Rev. 6-24)
• Serum Collection and Submission Instructions DCH-0812 (Rev. 4-24)
• Vaccinia/Variola/Pox Virus Specimen Collection and Submission Form and Instructions DCH-1396 (Rev. 3-22)
• Viral Load Testing for HIV-1 DCH-0562 (Rev. 11-26-23)
• Viral PCR Collection and Submission Instructions DCH-0772 (Rev. 2-24)

Rev. 05/05/2025