Shipment for COVID-19 Specimen

Specimen type

Expected duration of shipment

Recommended shipment temperature *

Shipment category **

Nasopharyngeal and or oropharyngeal swab (+ VTM or sterile saline #)

2–8 °C

≤ 12 days

2–8 °C

Biological Substance, Category B – UN 3373 /

Packing Instructions P650 (5,6).

> 12 days

70 °C (dry ice)

• Serum
• Whole blood
• Urine
• Stool
• 2–8 °C

≤ 5 days

2–8 °C

> 5 days

−70 °C (dry ice)

• Bronchoalveolar lavage (+VTM §)
• (Endo)tracheal aspirate (+VTM §)
• Nasopharyngeal aspirate or nasal wash (+VTM §)
• Sputum

≤ 2 days

2–8 °C

> 2 days

−70 °C (dry ice)

●        Tissue from biopsy or autopsy including from lung (+ VTM or sterile saline)

≤ 24 hours

2–8 °C

> 2 days

−70 °C (dry ice)