Specimen Requirements

Testing must be preapproved. Due to costs of
reagents and involvement of animal inoculations, all testing for
food borne illness MUST be arranged with MDCH Surveillance and
Infectious Disease Epidemiology Section at 517-335-8165 or
Microbiology Section Manager at 517-335-9641 prior to
collection.

Specimen source is required.

Specimen Type: Food, implicated

Container/Tube: Sterile, wide-mouth,
screw-capped jar

Specimen Volume: A minimum of 0.5 cup

Collection Instructions:

1. Label jar with patient’s full name, date of birth, and
date and time of collection.

2. Causes for rejection include unlabeled or incomplete request
form or specimen label not matching request form, leaking specimen,
no preapproval for testing, or specimen submitted in an
inappropriate manner (ie, shipped incorrectly according to Federal
standards).

Specimen Type: Serum

Container/Tube: Red top

Specimen Volume: A minimum of 7-10
mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Label tube with patient’s full name, date of birth, and
date and time of collection.

2. Causes for rejection include unlabeled or incomplete request
form or specimen label not matching request form, leaking specimen,
no preapproval for testing, or specimen submitted in an
inappropriate manner (ie, shipped incorrectly according to Federal
standards).

Specimen Type: Unpreserved stool

Container/Tube: Plastic container

Specimen Volume: A minimum of 15-25 g

Collection Instructions:

1. Label container with patient’s full name, date of
birth, and date and time of collection.

2. Causes for rejection include unlabeled or incomplete request
form or specimen label not matching request form, leaking specimen,
no preapproval for testing, or specimen submitted in an
inappropriate manner (ie, shipped incorrectly according to Federal
standards).