Specimen Transport

Supplies

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Mayo Medical Laboratories provides containers for the safe transport of medical specimens to our facilities. We encourage the use of these supplies, provided at no charge to our customers. These supplies have been tested to conform to IATA regulations. For example, the polypropylene tube has been pressure-tested to 13.8 psi, freezer tested to –70° C and remained leak-free.

Several options are available for ordering supplies:

Supplies with Stability Information/Expiration Dates

Stability Information

Supply # Item Stability Information
T469 CVS Media & Large Dish Okay to use if room temperature. Refrigerate as soon as possible.
T095 CVS Media & Small Dish Okay to use if room temperature. Refrigerate as soon as possible.
T115 Fibroblast Transport Media Okay room temp. 3 days. Okay to refrigerate. Good for 2 weeks after expiration date if refrigerate.
T125 GI Preservative Okay to use up to 1 week at room temperature.
T130 Gluta Can be room temperature or refrigerate.
T132 Hank’s Solution Okay to use if room temperature. Refrigerate as soon as possible.
T484 Multi-microbe Medium (M5) Do not use if room temperature.
T187 Mycoplasma (Focus) Tubes Keep cold at all times. Do not use if room temperature.
T012 Pyruvate Tube (Perchloric Acid) Okay room temp. up to 2 days. Refrigerate immediately. Must be cool before used.
T059 Test Yolk Buffer Do not use if room temperature.
T307 TRH Preservative Stabile for 7 days at room temp.

Approximate Expiration Dates on Supplies Available Through Packaging

Supply # Item Expiration Date
T007 ACD (Solution B) – 6 mL 1 year
T006 ACD (Solution B) – 2.6 mL 1 to 2 years
T066 Catecholamine Tubes – EDTA-Sodium Metabisulfate Solution 6 months
T282 Chain of Custody Kits 1 year
T478 Chain of Custody Kits – New England 1 year
T101 Dermatopathology Medium (10% formalin) 1 to 2 years
T102 Digene® Specimen Collection and Transport Kits for HPV 18 months
T115 Fibroblast Transport Medium 1 month
T118 10% Formalin
(Part of Renal Biopsy Kit)		 There is no official expiration date. Solution cannot be clumpy or cloudy.
T125 GI Preservative 1 year
T130 Gluta 1 year
T375 H. Pylori Breath Kit 1 year
T132 Hank’s Solution 1 year
T484 Multi-microbe Medium (M5) 10 months

Frequently Ordered Supplies

These photos are for the more commonly-used supplies that are provided by Mayo Medical Laboratories. Please refer to the Request for Supplies form for more items and details.

Temperature Color-Coded Shipping Bags

Ambient Bag - white (T027) Frozen Bag - yellow (T121) Refrigerate Bag - pink (T229)
White ambient bag with orange border, routine Yellow bag for frozen specimens Pink bag for refrigerated specimens
  • Place specimens appearing on one page of a batch sheet (approx. 6-10 samples) inside appropriate color-coded bag
    NOTE: Do not place multiple batches into one bag
  • Close top of bag
  • Count specimens placed in bag and write number on upper right-hand corner of batch sheet and place in outside pocket of bag

Serum/Plasma Aliquot Tube 6ml (T465)

  • Place appropriate amount of serum or plasma in tube using suggested specimen requirements found in the Test Catalog or MayoAccess
  • Tighten cap firmly
  • Use outline on tube for proper label placement
  • Holding tube top in right hand, place label so that the barcode and name read left to right
  • Place specimen in appropriate temperature color-coded shipping bag

Bubble Bags (T055)

  • Use for protecting primary draw specimen tubes or any other irreplaceable specimens

Urine Aliquot Tube 13 ml (T068)

  • Use for tests needing small amounts of urine
  • Place urine in tube and tighten cap
  • Holding tube top in right hand, place label so that the barcode and name read left to right
  • Place specimen in appropriate temperature colorcoded shipping bag

Urine Bottle 60 ml (T313)

  • Use for tests requiring larger amounts (>13 mL) of urine
  • Place label on tube with barcode facing towards cap
  • Place specimen in appropriate temperature colorcoded shipping bag

Stool Containers 24, 48, or 72 hour (T291)

  • Use for collection of stool samples
  • Give 4 containers for a timed collection
  • Give 1 container for a random collection
  • When specimen is returned, label each container and indicate total number of containers to be sent
  • Place at appropriate temperature for courier pick-up