The following table describes the type of sample that is appropriate for each of our tests. Please refer our "How to Submit a Specimen" instructions for more information.

Test Type	Acceptable Specimens
Bacterial Sequencing AFB Sequencing Fungal Sequencing 16S Gene Sequencing Rapid Mycoplasma Identification mecA and/or sa442 gene detection	Pure culture: plate, slant, or blood culture bottle (pure)
Aspergillus PCR - BAL	Bronchoalveolar lavage
Aspergillus PCR - Tissue	Fresh frozen specimens ideal. Paraffin embedded tissues, blood, or other sterile fluids also acceptable. Sputum specimens are permitted. No citrated or heparinized solutions are acceptable.
Bartonella PCR - Tissue or Culture	Pure culture: plate, slant, or blood culture bottle. Fresh frozen tissue specimen, paraffin embedded tissue, or sterile fluid also acceptable. No citrated or heparinized solutions are acceptable. Tissues floating in excess formalin are not acceptable. If you wish to send a tissue in formalin that has not been paraffin embedded, please call prior to submission.
C. difficile Toxin B gene detection	Fresh stool specimen or viable colonies on plate in anaerobic bag.
TB PCR	Fresh frozen tissue specimen, paraffin embedded tissues, sterile fluid, or lower respiratory specimen acceptable. No citrated or heparinized solutions. Direct blood specimens are also not acceptable. Please call before collecting specimen with swab. Tissues floating in excess formalin are not acceptable. If you wish to send a tissue in formalin that has not been paraffin embedded, please call prior to submission.
Tissue extraction and amplification	Acceptable Specimens
Bacterial PCR	Fresh frozen tissue specimen, paraffin embedded tissues, or sterile fluid acceptable. No citrated or heparinized solutions. All respiratory, genitourinary, and direct blood specimens are also not acceptable. Please call before collecting specimen with swab. Tissues floating in excess formalin are not acceptable. If you wish to send a tissue in formalin that has not been paraffin embedded, please call prior to submission.
Fungal PCR	Fresh frozen tissue specimen, paraffin embedded tissues, sterile fluid (including bronchoalveolar lavage), or skin scrapings acceptable. No citrated or heparinized solutions. Upper respiratory, genitourinary, and direct blood specimens are also not acceptable. Please call before collecting specimen with swab. Tissues floating in excess formalin are not acceptable. If you wish to send a tissue in formalin that has not been paraffin embedded, please call prior to submission.
AFB PCR	Fresh frozen tissue specimen, paraffin embedded tissues, and sterile fluids are acceptable. No citrated or heparinized solutions. All genitourinary, and direct blood specimens are also not acceptable. Respiratory specimens can be tested for Mycobacerium Tuberculosis complex only (see TBPCR for details). Please call before collecting specimen with swab. Tissues floating in excess formalin are not acceptable. If you wish to send a tissue in formalin that has not been paraffin embedded, please call prior to submission.

Please feel free to contact us with questions about acceptable specimens.

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