Specimen Collection Material Ordering Update – Effective April 1, 2026

Public Health Ontario (PHO) is updating how we provide specimen collection materials for clinical laboratory testing. These changes will help PHO continue delivering high-quality microbiological testing services by streamlining and focusing our laboratory offerings.

What’s Changing?
Effective April 1, 2026, PHO will no longer supply specimen collection materials for clinical laboratory testing to most health care providers. This means clinics, doctors’ offices, long-term care homes, and laboratories that currently receive these materials from PHO should begin sourcing them from alternative suppliers.

The following specialized testing kits will remain available from PHO (with order numbers):

• Bordetella Pertussis kits (390052)
• Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae NAA testing kits (300316 and 300317)
• Gastric lavage collection kits for hospital clients only (390043)

You can order these specialized kits by completing the Requisition for Specimen Containers and Supplies and submit it to your nearest PHO laboratory. Be sure to bookmark and download the latest version for each order. Printed requisitions will no longer be provided.

Collection kits for outbreak investigations should be coordinated though the local public health unit.

Exempted Clients
There are some exemptions to these updates, which include public health units (and clinics operated by health units) as well as certain specialized clinics and organizations.

If you have received confirmation that your organization is exempt from this change, you can continue ordering specimen collection materials from PHO as usual. The Requisition for Specimen Containers and Supplies will be updated effective April 1, 2026, but the ordering process remains the same. Please ensure you always use the most current version by bookmarking and downloading the latest version for each order.

Questions?
We value our partnership and are committed to ensuring a smooth transition.

If you have any questions, please contact PHO’s Laboratory Customer Service Centre

• Phone: 1-877-604-4567 (Mon–Fri: 7:30 a.m.–7:00 p.m.; Sat: 8:00 a.m.–3:45 p.m.)
• Email: customerservicecentre@oahpp.ca