Acceptable biological specimens needed for laboratory testing for anthrax

Types of tests	Acceptable materials	Minimum amount or size	Transport ≤2 hours	Transport ≥2 hours	Do not send
Culture and PCR	Isolate	Plate, slant	RT	RT	Broth
	Swabs (lesion)		RT	RT	On transport medium
	Blood, whole	1.0 mL in EDTA or sodium citrate tubes (do not use heparin)	RT	2 to 8°C	Blood culture bottle or heparin tube
	Fluids/aspirate (pleural, bronchial, CSF)	0.5 mL	RT	2 to 8°C
	Tissue, fresh	5 mm³ in container	2 to 8°C	Frozen at -70°C	Preserved tissue
	Blood clot	1.0 mL clot	RT	2 to 8°C
	Serum, separated and removed from clot	1.0 mL	RT	2 to 8°C	Frozen serum
	Citrated plasma, separated and removed from clot	1.0 mL	RT	2 to 8°C	Frozen plasma
	Stool	≥5 g	2 to 8°C	2 to 8°C
Serology	Serum, separated and removed from clot	1.0 mL	2 to 8°C	Frozen at <-20°C	Whole blood or blood culture bottle or plasma
Serology	Citrated plasma, separated and removed from clot	1.0 mL	2 to 8°C	Frozen at <-20°C	Plasma from EDTA or heparin tube
Histopathology	Tissues, preserved in 10 percent buffered formalin	1.0 cm³	RT	RT	Fresh or frozen tissue
Histopathology	Biopsies of lesions (eg, skin), preserved in 10 percent buffered formalin	0.3 mm diameter	RT	RT	Fresh or frozen tissue

PCR: polymerase chain reaction; RT: room temperature; EDTA: ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; CSF: cerebrospinal fluid.

Graphic 65814 Version 2.0