Additional Specimen Collection Information

Provider or Patient-Collected Vaginal Swab Collection Instructions:

1. Obtain an Xpert Swab Collection Kit. Swabs are not to be sent home with patients. They must be collected at the healthcare facility.
2. Open the package that contains the pink-capped Xpert Swab Transport Reagent tube and individually wrapped collection swab. Set the tube aside. Do not expose swab to Xpert CT/NG Swab Transport Reagent prior to collection.
3. Open the collection swab wrapper by peeling open the top of the wrapper. Remove the swab, taking care not to touch the tip or lay it down.
4. Hold the swab in your hand, placing your thumb and forefinger in the middle of the swab shaft across the score-line.
5. Carefully insert the swab into your vagina about two inches inside the opening of the vagina.
6. Gently rotate the swab for 10-30 seconds. Ensure the swab touches the walls of the vagina so that moisture is absorbed onto the swab. Withdraw the swab and continue to hold it in your hand.
7. Unscrew the cap from the transport tube and immediately place the specimen collection swab into the transport reagent tube.
8. Identifying the score-line, break the swab shaft against the side of the tube. Discard the top portion of the swab shaft.
9. Recap the swab transport reagent tube and tighten the cap securely.
10. Patient collected specimen should be returned as instructed to your doctor, nurse, or care-provider. Specimen should  be  labeled the with the patient name, patient identification number, date and time of collection and the initials of employee who assisted with the collection of the specimen.
    Storage:
    Swab specimens in transport tubes can be stored at room temperature or refrigerated for up to 42 days.