Specimen Submission Guidelines

Who May Submit Specimens

State health departments, U.S. physicians and non-U.S. physicians may submit specimens for evaluation. Individuals other than physicians or appropriate state health department personnel may not submit specimens directly to CDC.

If you are a patient, please contact your physician or local health department.

Consultation

Because of the hazards associated with handling specimens and virus isolation, testing is only done with prior consultation. Without prior consultation, the choice of tests and availability of appropriate specimens may delay the initiation of testing.

To obtain prior consultation, e-mail pathology@cdc.gov and include Name, Affiliation, Contact Information, Brief Clinical Information, Specimen Type and Relevant Digital Images (if available).

General Guidelines for Shipping Pathology Specimens

Download: General Guidelines for Shipping Pathology Specimens [PDF – 286 KB]

Packaging Guidelines

Room Temperature

Formalin-fixed wet tissues
Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded blocks*
Glass slides with sections from paraffin-embedded blocks
Glass slides with smears
EM blocks / EM grids

Refrigerated (frozen gel packs)

Fresh tissue
Blood
Wet tissue in EM fixative
Stool for EM

Frozen (dry ice) §

Fresh frozen tissue
Serum
Body fluids (BAL, CSF, urine)

* During the warmer months (June-August), it is advisable to ship the block(s) with a frozen gel ice-pack in order to prevent the melting of paraffin-embedded tissue blocks during transit.

§ When shipping frozen specimens from long distances or from international locations, it is best to use a combination of dry ice and frozen gel ice-packs. The gel ice-packs will remain frozen for a day or two after the dry ice has dissipated.

Shipping Guidelines

All packages should be mailed for receipt by Friday.
U.S. federal holidays should be taken into consideration before mailing specimens.
Exceptions can be made for urgent cases with prior approval.
Please provide the shipper’s package tracking number(s).
Specific regulations for packaging, labeling and shipping may be found at:

Supporting Documentation

Please include:

A completed CDC Form 50.34
a cover letter outlining a brief clinical history, including relevant demographic/epidemiologic information
a copy of (a) the autopsy report (preliminary or final) or (b) surgical pathology report
copies of pertinent laboratory results (microbiology, hematology, serology, culture, and/or biochemical)
images (clinical and/or gross autopsy photos)

Include the full name, title, complete mailing address, e-mail address, and telephone and fax numbers of the submitter. This will be the same person to whom the final pathology report is addressed.

Note: Advance consultation is REQUIRED concerning the submission of all cases.

Address

All specimens should be addressed to:

Chief, Infectious Diseases Pathology Branch (IDPB)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
1600 Clifton Rd NE, MS G-32
Atlanta, GA 30329-4027

Phone: (404) 639-3133
Fax: (404) 639-3043
pathology@cdc.gov