How to Submit a Specimen
Step 1.
Fill out an Order Form ensuring that at least two specimen identifiers are included on both the order form and the specimen itself.
Step 2.
Package the order form along with the specimen. Please refer to the Test Menu for more information on acceptable specimens.
Step 3.
Process and package specimens to meet the following criteria:
Overnight Courier (FedEx, UPS, etc.)
- Within 24-48 hours of collection, ship specimen on cold pack for arrival Tuesday-Friday.
- If this is not possible, freeze sample at -65°C in transport media at their origin.
- Ship frozen samples overnight with 5 pounds of dry ice for arrival Tuesday-Friday.
- We do not accept weekend or holiday deliveries.
Instructions for Local Couriers (click to expand)
- If delivered within 24 hours: specimens can be kept on wet ice, cold pack, or refrigerated
- Do not allow to sit unattended in a hot car or other adverse environment.
- Beyond 24 hours: Freeze sample at -65°C at their origin and transport on dry ice.
- Specimens collected at local hospitals, should be delivered to the Diagnostic Mycoplasma Laboratory Monday through Friday by courier. Couriers should be aware of the weekend policy. Deliveries are to be made to OutReach Lab at University Hospital (S299) on Saturday, Sunday or holiday. One of our laboratory personnel will pick up specimens once daily on Saturday, Sunday and holidays.
Step 4.
Ship specimens adhering to the above criteria via courier service to the address indicated below:
Deliveries of specimens collected off site should be made between 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. Monday- Friday:
| Mailing Address |
|---|
| Diagnostic Mycoplasma Laboratory 1825 University BLVD SHEL 476 University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, AL 35294-2182 Attention: Donna Crabb or Amy Ratliff Telephone: (205) 934-9142 Please feel free to contact us with questions on how to submit a specimen. |
NOTE: Shelby Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Building is locked after 6PM daily and all day on Saturday and Sunday.
On Saturday, Sunday and holidays all specimens handled by local courier should be delivered to:
University Hospital Laboratories Outreach Lab (S299)
2nd Floor Spain-Wallace Building
Telephone: (205) 934-6440
The courier should inform the attendant at the desk that this is a specimen for Diagnostic Mycoplasma Laboratory and is to be placed in the mycoplasma box in their refrigerator. It should not be logged into their laboratory system. The specimen will be held until our laboratory personnel collect them.
Shipper’s Responsibility (click to expand)
The shipper is required to comply with the rules and regulations for the transport of medical specimens as set forth by the United States government, the government of the country of specimen origin, and the international regulatory agencies. Failure to follow instructions for packaging and shipping specimens can result in delay, loss, or destruction of your specimens. UAB Diagnostic Mycoplasma Laboratory will not be held responsible for any liability attributable to the shipping of improperly packaged specimens or failure to comply with legal authorities.
The shipper must comply with any applicable regulations set forth by the countries of specimen origin, transit national and/or international laws, and destination. Also the shipper must make fully aware to the company shipping the specimen any hazards/biohazards of the specimen contained within. Any violation of these laws and/or rules may result in penalty, both civil and criminal, and/or destruction of the specimen. UAB Diagnostic Mycoplasma Laboratory is not liable for these issues.
Shipper must properly identify, classify, package correctly, mark, and label all the contents of the shipment in accordance with the laws and regulations of the country of origin, transit, and destination.
Shipper’s personnel involved in the packaging and preparation of packages for transport of specimens must have received training to identify, classify, package correctly, mark, and label the said package and documents sent to UAB Diagnostic Mycoplasma Laboratory. All records of training must be available per request of UAB Diagnostic Mycoplasma Laboratory of any entity and/or representative of the UAB Hospital System. It is imperative that the said shipper’s employees be trained in packaging and labeling of specimens in accordance to USPHS (United Public Health Service, Division of Quarantine) and IATA (International Air Transport Association) specifically for international transportations. Within the United States, shippers must observe the specifications/rules/regulations of United States Customs/United States Dept of Transportation.
