Enteric Bacteriology / Protozoa PCR Kit order#: 390049

1. Wash your hands with soap and water, then dry your hands.
2. Remove the specimen collection vial from the biohazard bag.
   NOTE: Do NOT drink any liquid (i.e. transport medium) inside the vial.

3. Check the vial is not expired based on the expiry date on the vial. If so, return the vial to the place that initially provided it to you.
4. If not already done, label the vial with the date of collection, full name, and one other unique identifier such as date of birth or health card number.
   NOTE: The date of collection, name, date of birth, and/or health card number on each vial label MUST match exactly the information given on the test requisition. Mismatched information may result in specimen cancellation or testing delay.

5. If needed, pee first and flush (or change diapers if wet) before specimen collection to avoid mixing stool and urine.
6. Defecate into a clean and dry wide-mouthed receptable (e.g. chamber pot) or on a clean disposable surface (e.g., aluminum pie plate, plastic cling wrap, or newspaper placed over the open rim of the toilet bowl). For persons wearing diapers, obtain fecal specimen directly from the feces-soiled diaper.
   NOTE: Do NOT bring the feces into contact with water or urine in the toilet bowl or in the diaper.

7. Uncap the vial.
8. Using the spatula inside the cap, scoop different sections of the fecal specimen, preferably areas that may have mucus or blood and both the start and the end of the fecal specimen in case organisms are only present in some portions of the feces.
9. Transfer the scooped fecal portions carefully into the vial, adding enough feces to reach the fill line indicated on the vial.
   NOTE: Do NOT overfill the vial.

10. Replace the cap and screw the cap tightly.
11. Wipe and/or clean your perineum and dispose of the remaining feces as usual.
12. Wash your hands with soap and water, then dry your hands.
13. Shake the vial vigorously for a few seconds to mix the liquid (i.e. transport medium) inside with the feces.
14. Place the vial in the biohazard bag.
15. Peal the adhesive at the bag opening to seal the bag.
16. Insert the filled-out test requisition in the pocket on the outside of the sealed biohazard bag.
17. Give the specimen to the community specimen collection site, hospital laboratory, institution, or local public health unit on the same day that the specimen was collected.
    NOTE: Do NOT delay submission of the collected specimen, submit it as soon as possible.

18. At the specimen collection site, hospital laboratory, institution, or local public health unit, store the biohazard bag containing the specimen vial in a clean and uncluttered refrigerator until shipped to PHO’s laboratory.

Storage of unused kits: Do NOT use expired kits. Check expiry dates on kits before collecting specimens, Kits may be used until the last day of the month of expiry. Kits can be stored at room temperature until stated expiry date.

Disposal of expired kits: The expired kits may be returned by the community specimen collection site, hospital laboratory, institution, or local public health unit to PHO for disposal if they are not a registered waste generator. Returns of expired kits may be clearly indicated as “Expired Kits” on the shipping container. PHO does not cover shipping costs for returned items. For return authorization and further directions, contact PHOL.Warehouse@oahpp.ca.

To order kits and for more information: complete our Requisition for Specimen Containers and Supplies form at www.publichealthontario.ca/requisitions, and submit the completed form to the closest PHO location listed on page 2 of the form.