Disease

Specimen Selection

Transport Conditions

Storage Conditions

Anthrax (Bacillus anthracis)

Cutaneous

Vescicular Stage: Collect fluid on sterile swab(s). The organism is best demonstrated in this stage.

≤ 2 h /

Room Temp

≤ 24 h /

Room Temp

Eschar Stage: Without removing eschar, rotate and collect lesion material.

≤ 2 h /

Room Temp

≤ 24 h /

Room Temp

Gastrointestinal

Stool: Collect 5-10 g in a sterile, leakproof container.

≤ 1 h /

Room Temp

≤ 24 h / 4⁰C

Blood: Collect per institution's procedure for routine blood culture.

≤ 2 h /

Room Temp

Delayed entry may depend on instrument

Inhalation (Pulmonary)

Sputum: Collect expectorated specimens into a sterile, leakproof container.

≤ 1 h /

Room Temp

≤ 24 h / 4⁰C

Blood: Collect per institution's procedure for routine blood culture.

≤ 2 h /

Room Temp

Delayed entry may depend on instrument

Plague (Yersinia pestis)

Pneumonic

Sputum/throat: Collect routine throat culture using a swab or expectorated sputum collected into sterile, leakproof container.

≤ 2 h /

Room Temp

≤ 24 h / 4⁰C

Bronchial/tracheal wash: Collect per institution's procedure in an area dedicated to collecting respiratory specimen under isolation/containment circumstance, i.e., isolation chamber, "bubble".

≤ 2 h /

Room Temp

≤ 24 h / 4⁰C

Blood: Collect per institution's procedure for routine blood culture.

≤ 2 h /

Room Temp

Delayed entry may depend on instrument

Tularemia (Francisella tularensis)

Pneumonic

Sputum/throat: Collect routine throat culture using a swab or expectorated sputum collected into sterile, leakproof container.

≤ 2 h /

Room Temp

≤ 24 h / 4⁰C

Bronchial/tracheal wash: Collect per institution's procedure in an area dedicated to collecting respiratory specimen under isolation/containment circumstance, i.e., isolation chamber, "bubble".

≤ 2 h /

Room Temp

≤ 24 h / 4⁰C

Blood: Collect per institution's procedure for routine blood culture.

≤ 2 h /

Room Temp

Delayed entry may depend on instrument

Smallpox (Variola virus)

Rash

Biopsy: Aseptically place two to four portions of tissue into a sterile, leakproof, freezable container.

~ 1 h / 4⁰C

-20⁰C / -70⁰C

Scabs: Aseptically place scrapings/material into a sterile, leakproof, freezable container.

~ 6 h / 4⁰C

-20⁰C / -70⁰C

Vesicular fluid: Collect fluid from separate lesions onto separate sterile swabs. Be sure to include cellular materials from the base of each respective vesicle.

~ 6 h / 4⁰C

-20⁰C / -70⁰C