Endocervical, Endourethral, or Rectal mucosa (without feces) swab in VCM or other FDA approved equivalent viral transport media.

Also acceptable: Vaginal swab on children under 13 years.

One swab in VCM or equivalent. Frozen (dry ice).

* Collection Instructions *

• Place swab into VCM (equal volumes of fluid and VCM) or other FDA approved equivalent viral transport media and transport the specimen to the laboratory as soon as possible.
• Best recovery is obtained when the specimens are refrigerated at 2-8°C prior to shipment.
• Specimens in VCM or equivalent should be frozen at -70°C or colder and transported on dry ice.
• Storage or transport at -20°C is not acceptable.

Due to potential propagation of SARS-CoV-2 virus in Chlamydia culture cells, respiratory and eye specimens are no longer accepted. The recommended alternative for respiratory and eye specimens is 4966-Chlamydia trachomatis Antigen, DFA.

VCM medium or equivalent

Ambient: Unacceptable

Refrigerated: 48 hours

Frozen -20°C: Unacceptable

Frozen -70°C: 30 days

• Specimens submitted in Viral Transport Media that do not support Chlamydia
• Wooden shaft and calcium alginate swabs
• Bacterial transport systems
• Molecular transport systems
• Respiratory specimens
• Eye (conjunctival) specimens
• Dry swab