Specimen Requirements

Collection of all three specimen types (not just one or two of the three), lower respiratory, upper respiratory and serum specimens for testing using the MERS-CoV PCR assay is recommended.

Lower respiratory tract specimens:

Sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage, tracheal aspirate, or pleural fluid

Minimum volume:

Sputum 5 mL 
Bronchoalveolar lavage, tracheal aspirate, pleural fluid 2-3 mL

Upper respiratory tract specimens:

Nasopharyngeal and/or oropharyngeal swab or washings in viral transport media collected with a Dacron tip and an aluminum or plastic shaft (swabs with calcium alginate or cotton tips and wooden shafts are unacceptable). Submit swabs in 2-3 ml of viral transport media; NP/OP specimens can be combined, placing both swabs in the same vial.

For all respiratory specimens, refrigerate specimen at 2-8°C up to 72 hours; if exceeding 72 hours, freeze at -70°C.

Serum:

For antibody testing, serologic testing on a single serum sample collected 14 or more days after symptom onset may be beneficial.

For serum PCR testing: A single serum specimen collected optimally during the first 10-12 days after symptom onset is recommended. PCR testing will be performed on specimens collected <14 days after onset of symptoms.

Minimum volume: Serum 400ul

For serum specimens, refrigerate the serum specimen at 2-8°C.