COVID-19 PCR Collection Kits

The following chart provides information on collection kits for procurement that are acceptable for COVID-19 PCR testing.

The PHO laboratory has done a limited evaluation on the specimen collection kits listed. These can be used for collection of intended or alternative specimens as indicated in the COVID-19 PCR test information sheet. Specimens collected in acceptable media can also be tested for Respiratory Viruses (including influenza)  (including rapid influenza testing and multiplex respiratory virus panel [MRVP]) provided acceptance criteria are met (see asterisks below for exceptions).

The PHO laboratory will accept some specimen types and other liquid transport media not listed on this website (except gel or solid media) for COVID-19 testing; however, if the submitted specimen and/or media type were not validated at PHO Laboratory for COVID-19 testing, the results will be reported with a disclaimer.

Effective April 1, 2023, collection kits are ordered through the PPE Supply Portal.

Some collection kits may have expiration dates extensions beyond the manufacturer label. The list of expiry extensions for COVID-19 testing products is available through the Ontario Health COVID-19 Health System Response Materials page.

Tables last updated as of February 3, 2023.

Specimen Collection Kits (Swab + Transport Media) Available through Ontario Health

Collection Kit (Catalogue #) Description Test Options Available
Accuviral NP Kit (no image available) Accugene-Accuviral Kit with Media and NP swab

GDL Korea Kit

GDL Korea Kit

2 mL vial of pink media and nylon flocked swab (95mm breakpoint)

Media Type: VTM/UTM

McMaster Molecular Medium paired with Miraclean STC-200 NP swab

McMaster Molecular

2mL vial of McMaster Molecular Medium Miraclean flocked “disposable sampling swab” (95mm breakpoint)

Media Type: Guanidine/ Guanidinium-based**

Miraclean Kit

Miraclean Kit

Disposable Sampling Kit w/ 2mL vial of pink media and flocked  “disposable sampling swab” (95mm breakpoint)

Media Type: VTM/UTM

Roche Dual Swab Kit (07958021190)

Roche Dual Swab Kit

Cobas PCR Media Dual Swab Sample Packet w/ 4.3mL vial of media, 1 woven tip swab, and 1 flocked tip swab (70mm breakpoint)

Media Type: Guanidine/ Guanidinium-based**

Note: Although this kit comes prepackaged with two swabs, only one of the two swabs should be used.

Roche + CHS Flocked Swab Kit (85-1052)

Roche CHS Flocked

4.3mL of Roche Cobas PCR Media w/ flocked tip swab (70mm breakpoint)

Media Type: Guanidine/ Guanidinium-based**

Roche Uni Swab Kit (07958030190)

Roche Uni Swab Kit

Cobas PCR Media Uni Swab Sample Packet w/ 4.3mL vial of media and woven tip swab (70mm breakpoint)

Media Type: Guanidine/ Guanidinium-based**

Roche + CHS Woven Swab Kit (85-1051)

Roche CHS Woven

4.3mL of Roche Cobas PCR Media w/ woven tip swab (70mm breakpoint)

Media Type: Guanidine/ Guanidinium-based**

Starplex Multitrans Kit (CA66410-030)

Starplex Multitrans Kit

Starswab Multitrans System w/ 2mL vial of pink media and woven sterile collection swab (100mm breakpoint)

Media Type: VTM/UTM

Yocon (Bionuclear) Kit (STC-120)

Yocon Bionuclear Kit

2.5 mL vial of pink media and Yocon “flocked swab” (80mm breakpoint)

Media Type: VTM/UTM

Yocon (Bionuclear) Kit (STC-110)

Yocon Bionuclear STC 110

3.0 mL vial of pink media and Yocon “flocked swab” (80mm breakpoint)

Media Type: VTM/UTM

Specimen Collection Kits (Saliva) Available through Ontario Health

Collection Kit (Catalogue #) Description  Test Options Available 

Saliva collection: neat (with funnel)

Saliva collection: neat (with funnel)

A sterile empty tube with a funnel

Note: Media cap may vary in colour and vial may vary in shape

Media Type: no media

Saliva collection: neat (with SDNA- 2000 Spectrum Kits)

Saliva collection: neat (with SDNA- 2000 Spectrum Kits)

A sterile empty tube, funnel, and cap that contains blue coloured transport media 

Media Type: guanidine/guanidinium-based

Specimen Transport Media (no swabs) Available through Ontario Health

Media Type (Catalogue #) Description Test Options Available

Copan Media (CA305MH)

Copan Media (CA305MH)

3mL vial of media

Media Type: VTM/UTM

  • COVID-19 and/or other respiratory viruses

Microbix DxTM Transport Media (VTM-64-03)

Microbix DxTM Transport Media (VTM-64-03)

3mL vial of media

Media Type: VTM/UTM

  • COVID-19 and/or other respiratory viruses

Oxoid Remel M4RT Media

Oxoid Remel M4RT Media

3mL of Remel M4RT media

Media Type: VTM/UTM

  • COVID-19 and/or other respiratory viruses

Trinity Biotech Media (Bartels FlexTrans)

Trinity Biotech Media (Bartels FlexTrans)

2mL of Bartels FlexTrans media 

Note: Cap may vary in colour

Media Type: VTM/UTM

  • COVID-19 and/or other respiratory viruses

Yocon Media (STC-110)

Yocon Media (STC-110)

3.0 mL vial of pink media

Media Type: VTM/UTM

  • COVID-19 and/or other respiratory viruses

Specimen Collection Swabs (no transport media) Available through Ontario Health

At this time, there are no dedicated neonatal nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs available in Ontario. Current advice is to collect an NP swab when testing neonates for COVID-19. If the calibre of the available swab is too wide for NP swabbing, the swab can be used for alternative collection methods. Swab Type (Catalogue #) Description Test Options Available

Swab Type (Catalogue #) Description Test Options Available

Han Chang I-Swab

Han Chang I-Swab

I-swab, narrow-tipped flocked swab

Breakpoint: 95 mm

i-Clean Swab (CY-93050)

i-Clean Swab (CY-93050)

i-Clean wide-tipped flocked swab

Breakpoint: 78mm

Miraclean (MSC-96000/STC200) NP Swab

Miraclean (MSC-96000/STC200) NP Swab

Mantacc Miraclean nylon disposable sampling swab, narrow-tipped flocked swab

Breakpoint: 80 mm

Micronostynx Goodcare /Goodwood NP Swab

Micronostynx Goodcare /Goodwood NP Swab

Goodwood Medical Care narrow-tipped flocked swab

Breakpoint: 80 mm

S-Stick Swab

S-Stick Swab

Woven-tipped swab

Breakpoint: 92 mm

 

*Wherever possible, Nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs should be reserved for NP swabbing methods, and other swab types (oral/nasal) are to be used for non-NP or alternative specimen collection methods. If other swab types are unavailable, NP swabs may be used for alternative specimen collection methods.

**Due to the media type (typically guanidine/guanidium-based), these specimens are NOT suitable for rapid influenza testing (the immunochromatographic rapid influenza test used for institutional outbreak testing). For more information, refer to the Virus Respiratory for influenza outbreak testing algorithm.

*** These specimen collection media types are only suitable for COVID-19 virus testing and NOT suitable for other Respiratory viruses (including influenza) testing.

Pre-assembled Specimen Collection Kits No Longer Distributed in Ontario

Collection Kit (Catalogue #) Description Test Options Available

BD Kit (B220531 or B220528)

BD - B220528 

3mL vial of media

Media Type: VTM/UTM

Swab Type: sterile mini-tip swab or sterile nylon flocked tip swab (100mm breakpoint)

Beaver Kit (43903)

Beaver Biomedical Engineering - 43903 

3mL vial of clear media and flocked “specimen collection swab” (80mm breakpoint)

Media Type: Buffered saline

Copan Kit (CA302MH)

Copan - CA302MH 

3mL vial of media and standard flocked swab (100mm breakpoint)

Media Type: VTM/UTM

Copan Kit (CA305MH)

Copan - CA305MH 

3mL vial of media and pernasal flocked swab (100mm breakpoint)

Media Type: VTM/UTM

Copan Pediatric Midturbinate Swab Kit (CA56750CS01)

Copan - CA56750CS01

3mL vial of media and pediatric mid-turbinate flocked swab (55mm breakpoint)

Media Type: VTM/UTM

Deaou Kit

Deaou Kit - Reworked

3mL vial of media and “disposable sampling swab” (80mm breakpoint)

Media Type: Guanidine/ Guanidinium-based**

ESBE EZ Pro Kit (ESB-VA50005NP)

ESBE  EZPro ESBVA50005NP

EZ Pro Transport Medium Swab Kit w/ 2mL vial of clear media and “sterile collection swab” (85mm breakpoint)

Media Type: Guanidine/ Guanidinium-based**

Hologic (Aptima) Multitest Swab Kit (PRD-03546)

Hologic Multitest Swab

Multitest Swab Specimen Collection Kit w/ 2.9 mL vial of media and woven multitest swab (75mm breakpoint)

Media Type:Specimen Transport Media**

Hologic (Aptima) Unisex Swab Kit (301041)

Hologic Uni Swab

Unisex Swab Specimen Collection Kit w/ 2.9mL vial of media and woven collection swab (75mm breakpoint)

Note: Kit also contains a cleaning swab that is not suitable for testing.

Media Type:Specimen Transport Media**

Microbix DxTM transport Media (VTM-64-03)

Microbix DxTM media and swab kit

3mL vial of media and flocked swab (70 mm breakpoint)

Media Type: VTM/UTM

Norgen Media paired with i-Clean swab (68803 + CY-96000)

Norgen Media  iClean CY96000

3mL vial of media and narrow-tipped flocked swab (90mm breakpoint)

Media Type: Guanidine/ Guanidinium-based**

Norgen media paired with i-Clean swab (68803 + CY-93050)

Norgen Media  iClean CY93050

3mL vial of media and flocked “specimen collection swab” (78mm breakpoint).

Media Type: Guanidine/ Guanidinium-based**
Oxoid Kit (OXRE12568) (no image available)

M6 Kit w/ 3mL vial of media and traditional-tipped flocked swab

Media Type: VTM/UTM

Oxoid Kit (OXRE12569)

Oxoid - OXRE12569

M6 Kit w/ 3mL vial of media and micro-tipped flocked swab

Media Type: VTM/UTM

Oxoid media paired with Puritan NP swab (R12505 + 25-3317-H)

Oxoid  Remel M4RT  Puritan 253317H

3mL of Remel M4RT media Puritan sterile flocked swab (105mm breakpoint)

Media Type: VTM/UTM

PHO in-house media paired with Copan swab (220252)

PBS Media paired with Copan Floq

3mL of PHO media with Copan FLOQ swab (100mm breakpoint)

Note: Media cap may vary in colour and vial may vary in shape

Media Type: PBS

PHO in-house media paired with i-Clean swab (CY-96000)

PBS Media paired with Norgen iClean CY96000

3mL of PHO media with i-Clean narrow-tipped flocked swab (80mm breakpoint)

Note: Media cap may vary in colour and vial may vary in shape

Media Type: PBS

PHO in-house media paired with Puritan swab (25-3317-H)

PBS Media paired with Puritan253317H

3mL of PHO media with Puritan sterile flocked swab (105mm breakpoint)

Note: Media cap may vary in colour and vial may vary in shape

Media Type: PBS*

Roche media paired with Copan swab (06466281190 + 220252)

Roche Cobas PCR media paired with Copan Floq

4.3mL of Roche Cobas PCR Media Copan FLOQ swab (100mm breakpoint)

Media Type: Guanidine/ Guanidinium-based**

Roche media paired with i-Clean swab (06466281190 + CY-96000)

Roche Cobas PCR media paired with iClean

4.3mL of Roche Cobas PCR Media i-Clean narrow-tipped flocked swab (80mm breakpoint)

Media Type: Guanidine/ Guanidinium-based**

Roche media paired with Miraclean swab (06466281190)

Roche Cobas PCR media paired with Miraclean

4.3mL of Roche Cobas PCR Media Miraclean flocked “disposable sampling swab” (95mm breakpoint)

Media Type: Guanidine/ Guanidinium-based**

Roche media paired with Puritan swab (06466281190 + 25-3317-H)

Roche Cobas PCR media paired with Puritan253317H

4.3mL of Roche Cobas PCR Media Puritan sterile flocked swab (105mm breakpoint)  

Media Type: Guanidine/ Guanidinium-based**

Roche media paired with Sensor Health swab (06466281190)

Roche Cobas PCR media paired with Sensor Health swab

4.3mL of Roche Cobas PCR Media Sensor Health flocked “sampling swab” (80mm breakpoint)

Media Type: Guanidine/ Guanidinium-based**

Sensor Health Kit

Sensor Health kit

3mL vial of media and unscored foam-tipped swab w/ sterile scissors

Media Type: PBS

Note: Swab does not have a breakpoint; must be cut manually Steps for cutting swab

Trinity Biotech media paired with Beaver swab (B1029-90D)

Trinity Bio paired with Beaver

2mL of Bartels FlexTrans media with Beaver flocked “specimen collection swab” (80mm breakpoint)

Note: Cap may vary in colour

Media Type: VTM/UTM

Trinity Biotech media paired with i-Clean swab (B1029-90D + CY-96000)

Trinity Bio paired with i-Clean

2mL of Bartels FlexTrans media with  i-Clean narrow-tipped flocked swab (80mm breakpoint)

Note: Cap may vary in colour

Media Type: VTM/UTM

Trinity Biotech media paired with Miraclean swab (B1029-90D)

Trinity Bio paired with Miraclean

2mL of Bartels FlexTrans media with Miraclean flocked “disposable sampling swab” (95mm breakpoint)

Note: Cap may vary in colour

Media Type: VTM/UTM

Trinity Biotech media paired with Sensor Health swab (B1029-90D) 

(no image available)

2mL of Bartels FlexTrans media with Sensor Health flocked “sampling swab” (80mm breakpoint)

Note: Cap may vary in colour

Media Type: VTM/UTM

Saliva – neat - straw

Neat with straw kit

A sterile empty tube and straw

Media Type: No Media

Saliva: mouth rinse (“swish and gargle”) with straw

Swish and Gargle with straw kit

A sterile empty tube, straw, and 5 ml packet of saline rinse

Media Type: no media

Saliva: mouth rinse (“swish and gargle”) with funnel

Swish and Gargle with Funnel Kit

A sterile empty tube, funnel, and 5 ml packet of saline rinse

Media Type: no media

*Wherever possible, Nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs should be reserved for NP swabbing methods, and other swab types (oral/nasal) are to be used for non-NP or alternative specimen collection methods. If other swab types are unavailable, NP swabs may be used for alternative specimen collection methods.

**Due to the media type (typically guanidine/guanidium-based), these specimens are NOT suitable for rapid influenza testing (the immunochromatographic rapid influenza test used for institutional outbreak testing). For more information, refer to the Respiratory Viruses Test Information Sheet (including influenza) for influenza outbreak testing algorithm.

*** These specimen collection media types are only suitable for COVID-19 virus testing and NOT suitable for otherRespiratory Viruses Test Information Sheet (including influenza) testing.

Event

World TB Day 2024: Clinical and Public Health Approaches to Pediatric TB

This PHO Rounds will provide a brief summary of the recent epidemiology of TB in Ontario, with a focus on the epidemiology of pediatric TB. It will then provide an overview of the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of pediatric TB, including latent TB infection (LTBI).

See the Event Details
Updated 12 June 2023