Collection Instructions

Antibiotic Stewardship

Preparation for Specimen Collection

All specimens must be labeled with:

  1. The patient’s name
  2. Date of birth
  3. Date of collection
  4. Collector’s initials (If done by a medical professional)

Specimen Kit Includes:

  1. A dry transport swab
  2. A dry transport tube
  3. A specimen bag
  4. 2 specimen labels
  5. A sanitary wipe
  6. Collection instructions and requisition form

*Specimen cups are available upon request

Collection:

  1. Wash your hands with soap and water.
  2. Use the sanitary wipe to clean the genital area thoroughly.
  3. Remove the lid from the urine collection cup. Collect urine mid-stream (start urination in toilet, stop, and continue urination in cup) to fill to a depth of 1-2 inches.
  4. Take the sterile swab out of the dry transport package. Be careful not to touch the end of the swab.
  5. Saturate the swab by swirling it in the urine for up to 10 seconds. Discard the remaining urine.
    PLEASE DO NOT SEND URINE CUPS TO THE LAB.
  6. Place the saturated swab into the transport tube and close tightly.
  7. On the provided labels, record patient information listed in the “Preparation for Specimen Collection” section above.
  8. Place one label on the dry transport tube and the other label on the requisition form.

WoundPath™

(Recommended to be done by a medical professional)

Specimen Kit Includes:

  1. A dry transport swab
  2. A dry transport tube
  3. A specimen bag
  4. 2 specimen labels
  5. Collection instructions and requisition form

Collection:

  1. Wash your hands with soap and water.
  2. Take the sterile swab out of the dry transport package. Be careful not to touch the end of the swab.
  3. Clean the surface with sterile saline. Remove the scab or biofilm from the wound (if applicable) and swab underneath for an optimal sample.
  4. Place the saturated dry swab into the transport tube and close tightly.
  5. On the provided labels, record the patient information as listed in the “Preparation for Specimen Collection” section above.
  6. Place one label on the dry transport tube and the other label on the requisition form.

RespiraPath™ & COVID Collection

Specimen Kit Includes:

  1. A dry transport swab
  2. A dry transport tube
  3. A specimen bag
  4. 2 specimen labels
  5. Collection instructions and requisition form

Collection:

  1. Wash your hands with soap and water.
  2. Take the sterile swab out of the dry transport package. Be careful not to touch the end of the swab.
  3. Gently insert the swab ½ to ¾ of an inch into the nostril. Rub the swab around the inside wall of the nostril 5-10 times (approximately for 10 seconds). Repeat these steps for the other nostril.
  4. If a COVID Oral sample is requested, swab the tonsil region of both sides of the throat for approximately 10 seconds. 
  5. Place the saturated dry swab into the transport tube and close tightly.
  6. On the provided labels, record the patient information as listed in the “Preparation for Specimen Collection” section above.
  7. Place one label on the dry transport tube and the other label on the requisition form.

GastroPath™ 

Specimen Kit Includes:

  1. A dry transport swab
  2. A dry transport tube
  3. A specimen bag
  4. 2 specimen labels
  5. Collection instructions and requisition form

*Toilet hats are available upon request

Collection:

  1. Wash your hands with soap and water.
  2. Defecate into the toilet hat. 
  3. Take the sterile swab out of the dry transport package. Be careful not to touch the end of the swab.
  4. Swirling the swab in the stool specimen is preferred over a rectal swab specimen.
  5. Place the saturated dry swab into the transport tube and close tightly.
  6. On the provided labels, record the patient information as listed in the “Preparation for Specimen Collection” section above.
  7. Place one label on the dry transport tube and the other label on the requisition form.

SinoPath™ 

Specimen Kit Includes:

  1. A dry transport swab
  2. A dry transport tube
  3. A specimen bag
  4. 2 specimen labels
  5. Collection instructions and requisition form

Collection:

  1. Wash your hands with soap and water.
  2. Take the sterile swab out of the dry transport package. Be careful not to touch the end of the swab.
  3. Swirl the inside of your ear with the swab (as you would with a q-tip) 5-10 times. 
  4. Place the saturated dry swab into the transport tube and close tightly.
  5. On the provided labels, record the patient information as listed in the “Preparation for Specimen Collection” section above.
  6. Place one label on the dry transport tube and the other label on the requisition form.

NailPath™

Specimen Kit Includes:

  1. A dry transport tube
  2. A specimen bag
  3. 2 specimen labels
  4. Collection instructions and requisition form

Collection:

  1. Wash your hands with soap and water.
  2. Clip/cut a small part of your nail.
  3. Place the nail into the transport tube and close tightly.
  4. On the provided labels, record the patient information as listed in the “Preparation for Specimen Collection” section above.
  5. Place one label on the dry transport tube and the other label on the plastic bag that the transport tube goes in.

Shipping Instructions

Ship to:
NCF Diagnostics & DNA Technologies
12076 Technology Ave, Alachua, FL 32615

Packaging and shipping:

  1. Place the labeled transport tube into the clear specimen bag.
  2. Place the completed and physician-signed test requisition form, a copy of the insurance card (FRONT and BACK), and any medical notes in the outer sleeve of the clear specimen bag.
  3. Close the clear transport specimen bag tightly and place it in the pre-addressed/pre-paid envelope.
  4. Mail the pre-addressed/pre-paid envelope

**IF AN INSUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF GENETIC MATERIAL WAS COLLECTED**

  1. NCF DNA will contact your facility through a phone call, a faxed policy letter, and through the Eden portal to request a new patient sample.
  2. If we do not receive a new sample, your sample will be suspended from further processing and there will be no additional billing from NCF DNA.

**SPECIAL ATTENTION (FRIDAY SHIPMENTS)**

When mailing Friday shipments, please use Friday shipment only return labels that are marked for Saturday delivery. If you do not use these labels, the sample will not arrive at the lab until Monday if they are shipped from your location on Friday. If you do not have these labels, please call us to request them.

Certifications and Accreditations