SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19 AGENT) PCR

1. Upper respiratory tract specimen (for patients with upper respiratory tract symptoms)
   • Nasopharyngeal swab
   • Oropharyngeal (throat) swab
   • Nasal (anterior nares or mid-turbinate) swab
   • Combination of Nasopharyngeal and Oropharyngeal swab (place both swab sheaths in same specimen bag)
   • Combination of nasal and oropharyngeal swab (collected using the same dacron swab)
     Please note that swabs must be sent DRY in swab sheath. Please use only flocked swabs or Dacron/rayon-tipped swabs with plastic shafts. Cotton-tipped swabs with wooden shafts will be rejected.
      
2. Lower respiratory tract specimen (for patients with pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome
   • Sputum
   • Endotracheal aspirate (ETTA)
   • Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL)

Respiratory samples must be collected with full respiratory protection such as N95 masks or powered air-purifying respirators.

Please put specimens into specimen bags. Specimens from high risk patients should be double-bagged. Place the specimen/s in a hard, waterproof and airtight secondary container. The container has to be hand-delivered to the Molecular Laboratory, Level 12, Diagnostics Tower, Academia (during opening hours) or to Client and Specimen Management (CSM) Section outside Molecular Laboratory opening hours.

​For the qualitative detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in patients suspected to have acute COVID-19 infection.

​Specimens should be kept cool and can be transported at 18-25oC to the testing laboratory if the total storage and transport time at 18-25oC does not exceed one hour. Otherwise, specimen should be refrigerated and transported cooled (2-8oC) and to reach the testing laboratory within 48 hours of collection.

​Reverse transcription real time polymerase chain reaction (Cepheid Xpert® Xpress SARS-CoV-2 Assay).

​Detected, Not Detected, Inconclusive, Presumptive Positive

​24 hours after receipt of sample

​For SGH patients, please order the “COVID-19 PCR Rapid Test (SARS-CoV-2)” instead (SARS-CoV-2 PCR (COVID-19 PCR) Rapid Test (sgh.com.sg)).