Specimens for virus isolation and nucleic acid detection purposes should be tested as soon as possible.
Specimens to be tested within 72 hours can be stored at 2-8 °C; those that cannot be tested within 72 hours should be stored at -70 °C or below (specimens may be temporarily stored in -20 °C refrigerators in the absence of -70 °C storage condition).
Serum can be stored at 4 °C for 3 days and below -20 °C for a longer period.
If the storage is less than a week, the sample should be kept at -20 °C.
If the specimen is needed to store more than three month, the specimen must be stored at -70 °C.

Ideally, specimens should be safely discarded (autoclaved) upon completion of the test with confirmation from the Public Health services that no repeat tests are required.
Waste disposal procedures should be the same as for other types of biohazardous waste.
All autoclaved disposable material must be thrown to the incinerator for burning to keep the environment from mess and dirty.