How to Submit a Specimen

Step 1.
Fill out an Order Form ensuring that at least two specimen identifiers are included on both the order form and the specimen itself.

Step 2.
Package the order form along with the specimen. The following table describes shipping conditions and preferred specimen handling procedures for samples submitted to the Molecular Microbiology Lab. Please refer to the list of Acceptable Specimens for more information.

Specimen Type
Specimen Handling Information
Fresh Tissues and Fluids
  • Fresh tissues and fluids are preferred to fixed material (see below).
  • Tissue or fluid placed in a sterile, DNA-free container is optimal for testing.
  • Some anticoagulants and additives can interfere with testing. Please refer to our Acceptable Specimens page for more information.
  • For solid tissue, we do not process more than 1 cubic cm.
  • Ship fresh tissue or fluid specimens frozen (on dry ice).
Formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissues
  • Formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue (PET) is accepted.
  • PET cassettes are preferred to sections or unstained slides. We will return the cassette upon completion of testing. If the entire PET cassette cannot be released, we do accept unstained slides or sections from the tissue in a DNA-free tube with two patient identifiers. For samples with a cross-sectional area greater than 1cm2, please submit 10 sections of 10 micron thickness. For samples with less tissue, please submit 20 sections of 10 micron thickness if available.
  • Unless instructed otherwise, if >1 PET per requisition is submitted, tissue from a maximum of 2 PETs is chosen and combined in 1:1 ratio. For analysis of >2 PETs, separate requisitions are required. Blocks from different body sites will be considered separate tests and should be accompanied by separate request forms.
  • Multiple cassettes can be pooled into a single assay. Simply indicate the desired combination(s) on the request form (eg. "Please combine blocks 9620A and 9620B for single assay"). Please note: combining two or more PET specimens for a single assay will result in testing of less material from each PET, potentially reducing the overall sensitivity.
  • Formalin fixation dramatically reduces the sensitivity of the assays due to reduced template yield and quality. Fresh tissue is the optimal specimen of choice, as it reduces the chance of introducing exogenous DNA templates or microorganisms during embedding/fixation.
  • Formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue can be shipped at room temperature.
Bacterial and Fungal Isolates
  • Bacteria or fungi growing on solid media are preferred.
  • Specimens submitted in broth culture or smear-positive blood culture are also accepted.
  • Fresh subculture of viable organism required.
  • Please indicate Gram stain result and any other phenotypic observations on the request form.
  • Ship organisms at room temperature.

Step 3.
Packaging and Transport
We ask all clients sending specimens to us to adopt a uniform specimen packaging procedure in order to ensure the safety of our couriers, and to make our processing workflow as streamlined an trouble-free as possible.
  • All specimens should be contained in sealed plastic specimen bags
  • The specimen bags should display the Biohazard logo
  • Each specimen bag should contain enough absorbent material to contain all of the contents of specimen tubes in case of breakage
  • Each specimen should be accompanied by the corresponding requisition sheet, folded and placed in the outside pocket of the specimen bag

Step 4.

Ship specimens adhering to the above criteria via courier service (FedEx First Overnight recommended) to the following address:

Shipping Address
Attn: Molecular Microbiology
UW CLSPS
1601 Lind Ave SW Room 117
Renton, WA 98057
Phone: 206-520-4600
Alternate phone: 206-598-6147

Please feel free to contact us with questions on how to submit a specimen.

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