Appendix F4— Guidelines for Collecting Specimens from Potential SARS Patients

Supplement F: Laboratory Guidance

Public Health Guidance for Community-Level Preparedness and Response to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) Version 2/3

Figure 1 – Recommended Specimens for Evaluation of Potential Cases of SARS

Text version:

Recommended specimens for evaluation of potential cases of SARS

• Outpatient
  • Upper Respiratory
    • Nasopharyngeal wash/aspirate
    • Nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs
  • Lower Respiratory
    • Sputum
  • Blood
    • Serum – acute and convalescent (>28 days post onset)
    • Blood (plasma)
  • Stool
• Inpatient
  • Upper Respiratory
    • Nasopharyngeal wash/aspirate
    • Nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs
  • Lower Respiratory
    • Broncheoalveolar lavage, tracheal aspirate, or pleural fluid tap
    • Sputum
  • Blood
    • Serum – acute and convalescent (>28 days post onset)
    • Blood (plasma)
  • Stool
• Fatal
  • Tissue
    • Fixed tissue from all major organs (e.g., lung, heart, spleen, liver, brain, kidney, adrenals)
    • Frozen tissue from lung and upper airway (e.g., trachea, bronchus)
  • Upper Respiratory
    • Nasopharyngeal wash/aspirate
    • Nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs
  • Lower Respiratory
    • Broncheoalveolar lavage, tracheal aspirate, or pleural fluid tap
  • Blood
    • Serum
    • Blood (plasma)
  • Stool

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