MED-X Program

Contact Info

Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control Division

651-201-5414

Specimen collection, handling, kits, and shipping information.

Clinical Specimen Collection and Handling
Please follow the Unexplained Critical Illness or Death specimen collection, handling, and shipping procedures.

MDH provides free specimen collection kits which include a variety of containers for storing fresh tissue and viral transport media. There are coolers available for transport as well.
- MED-X Specimen Collection Kit Request Form
  Request a MED-X Specimen Collection Kit.

Please process bacterial cultures separately; the MDH laboratory does not do routine bacterial cultures.

If an autopsy is done, collect specimens and submit them for appropriate testing.

If an autopsy is done, collect specimens and submit them for appropriate testing.

Download PDF version formatted for print:
Table 3: Specimens and Testing (PDF)

Specimen	Possible Testing	Description	Container
Blood	Bacterial culture	5ml aerobic & anaerobic	Use local lab
Serum	Serologic assays/Tox	10ml	Marble top vacutainer
NP Swab	Viral Culture	1 swab	Viral transport
Urine	Culture/ Antigen tests	20ml	Orange top, sterile
Fresh or frozen tissue from affected organs	Viral culture or PCR	1cm cubes (can keep refrigerated up to 4 days)	Clean vials
Formalin-fixed tissues	Histo-pathology, IHC, In situ hybridization PCR	All organs	Orange top, sterile
Paraffin-embedded tissues	Histo-pathology, IHC, ISH, PCR	Affected organs

Collect additional specimens based on antemortem signs and symptoms, and pathologic syndromes.

Collect additional specimens based on antemortem signs and symptoms, and pathologic syndromes.

Syndrome	Specimen	Description	Container
Respiratory	Deep lung swab	1 swab each lung	Bacterial & viral transport
Neurologic	CSF	10ml	Purple top or sterile container
Gastrointestinal	Stool		Clean vial
Dermatologic	Skin/soft tissue swab or tissue sample		Bacterial & viral transport or clean vial