Isolation Instructions

General Instructions

Specimen Types and Requirements

Whole blood (EDTA or Citrate preferred), amniotic fluid, CSF and other body fluids, placenta and other tissues

Shipment

Send specimens for Isolation testing to this address:

Dr. Jack S. Remington Laboratory for Specialty Diagnostics
Attention: Isolation
795 El Camino Real, Ames Building
Palo Alto, CA 94301

Ship each sample for Isolation testing in a separate sealed bag from other samples. All samples received for Isolation testing will be prepared for testing, and will not be suitable for return. Note: Isolation is a costly and labor intensive procedure. Once started, it may not be cancelled.

NOTE: Specimens must NOT be frozen or placed in formalin or other fixative. Inoculation for isolation is recommended within 48 hours of specimen collection date. Results available in six weeks.

Preferred Conditions for Processing, Storing, and Shipping Specimens for Isolation Testing

SAMPLE TYPE	STORAGE	SHIPPING CONDITIONS	MINIMUM VOLUME¹	RECOMMENDED VOLUME¹
Amniotic Fluid, CSF and other body fluids	Store sterilely, keep cool (NOT FROZEN) with ice bag or frozen cold packs.	2 – 8° C on ice or cold packs preferred; overnight delivery; DO NOT FREEZE	1 ml	3 ml
Whole Blood (EDTA, citrate, ACD tubes preferred; clot tubes (red top) accepted)	Keep cool (NOT FROZEN) with ice bag or frozen cold packs.	2 – 8° C on ice or cold packs preferred; overnight delivery; DO NOT FREEZE	1 ml	3 ml
Placenta	Store sterilely in sterile saline (NO FORMALIN OR OTHER PRESERVATIVE, DO NOT FREEZE). Penicillin (100 units per ml) and Streptomycin (100μgm/ml) or gentamicin (10- 40 mg/ml) should be added. Keep cool (NOT FROZEN) with ice bag or frozen cold packs.	2 – 8° C on ice or cold packs preferred; overnight delivery; DO NOT FREEZE	1g*	5g
Other Tissues	Store sterilely in sterile saline (NO FORMALIN OR OTHER PRESERVATIVE, DO NOT FREEZE). Keep cool (NOT FROZEN) with ice bag or frozen cold packs.	2 – 8° C on ice or cold packs preferred; overnight delivery; DO NOT FREEZE	1g*	5g

¹ The Remington Laboratory may test specimens that deviate from these conditions with client authorization. However, sensitivity might be compromised. Please contact our laboratory at (650) 853-4828 for any questions about testing specimens that do not conform to these conditions.

*Please note: smaller amounts of some tissues are accepted due to accessibility and difficulty of collection.

Isolation Instructions

General Instructions

Preferred Conditions for Processing, Storing, and Shipping Specimens for Isolation Testing

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