Endocervical - Use cobas PCR Media Dual Swab Sample Kit: With large cleaning swab, remove excess mucus and blood from the cervical os and surrounding mucosa and discard. Insert the flocked specimen collection swab into the endocervical canal and gently rotate the swab 5 times in one direction. Do not over-rotate. Carefully withdraw the swab avoiding any contact with the vaginal mucosa.  Immediately place swab into transport tube. Carefully break the swab shaft at the score line. Recap and Label tube with patient information/source/date/time.

Vaginal swab - Use cobas PCR Media Uni Swab Sample Kit: Hold the swab with the scoreline above your hand and insert the swab about 5 cm (2 inches) into the vaginal opening. Gently turn the swab for about 30 seconds while rubbing the swab against the walls of the vagina. Withdraw the swab carefully. Immediately place swab into transport tube. Carefully break the swab shaft at the score line. Recap and Label tube with patient information/source/date/time.

Rectal swab - Use cobas PCR Media Uni Swab Sample Kit. Hold the woven swab with the scoreline above your hand.Insert the swab about 3 to 5 cm (1-2 inches) into the anal canal. Gently turn the swab in a clockwise direction for about 5-10 seconds while rubbing the swab against the walls of the rectum. Withdraw the swab carefully. If the swab is grossly contaminated with feces, discard and repeat the collection. Insert the swab into the collection tube and break the swab shaft at the score line. Recap and Label tube with patient information/source/date/time.

Throat swab - Use cobas PCR Media Uni Swab Sample Kit:  Holding the specimen collection swab with the scoreline above your hand, instruct patient to tilt head backwards, open mouth and say "ah." Insert the swab into the mouth and collect the specimen from the bilateral posterior pharynx, both tonsils and the uvula. Withdraw the swab carefully. Immediately place swab into transport tube. Carefully break the swab shaft at the score line. Recap and Label tube with patient information/source/date/time.

Urine – Use cobas PCR Urine Sample Kit: Patient should NOT urinate for at least 1 hour prior to collection of specimen. Patient should collect the 10-50 ml of the initial urine stream in a sterile preservative-free collection cup. Immediately transfer urine into the cobas PCR media tube using the provided disposable pipette. The correct volume of urine has been added when the fluid level is between the two black lines on the tube label. Tightly recap the cobas PCR media tube, discard the transfer pipette and invert the tube 5 times to mix. The specimen is now ready for transport. Label tube with patient information/source/date/time.

Urethral male - Use cobas PCR Media Dual Swab Sample Kit: (Discard large woven cleaning swab - not needed) Insert the flocked specimen collection swab 2-4 cm into the urethra. Rotate for 2-3 seconds. Immediately place swab into transport tube. Carefully break the swab shaft at the score line. Recap and Label tube with patient information/source/date/time.

 

Use only cobas PCR Collection kits. Unacceptable specimens include wooden swabs, eye swabs and swab specimens without a swab in transport media. Large white swab is for preparatory cleaning of the endocervix and is unacceptable for testing when the dual swab is used for endocervical samples.

Carbomer containing products should not be used during specimen collection as this may affect test performance.

 

Swabs in cobas PCR media at 2-30°C within 30 days of collection. Unpreserved Urine at 2-30°C within 24 hours of collection. Urine in cobas PCR media specimen transport tube at 2-30° within 30 days of collection.

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
 

Results within 1-3 days
 

Negative for C. trachomatis / N. gonorrhoeae.
Positive for C. trachomatis / N. gonorrhoeae.

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