If a 2- to 3-day delay in processing of a specimen for viral culture is unavoidable, the specimen should be

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Ideally, all specimens collected for detection of virus should be processed by the laboratory immediately. Although inoculation of specimens into cell culture at the bedside has been recommended in the past, potential biohazards, sophisticated processing steps, and necessary quality control make this practice impractical today. Specimens for viral isolation should not be allowed to sit at room temperature or higher. Specimens should be placed in ice and transported to the laboratory at once. If a delay is unavoidable, the specimen should be refrigerated, not frozen, until processing occurs. Every attempt should be made to process the specimen within 12 to 24 hours of collection.

If a 2- to 3-Day Delay in Processing of a Specimen