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Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) Testing
This information was updated on October 20, 2020.
Cleveland Clinic Laboratories offers testing for the 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19).
At this time, testing is offered only to healthcare providers & organizations within the state of Ohio.
The SARS-CoV-2 assay is available for the qualitative detection of the COVID-19 virus in respiratory specimens from individuals with the appropriate signs, symptoms, and epidemiologic exposure.
Because this is a novel virus, we expect the situation to evolve. Our physicians and leaders are closely collaborating with public health officials on a local, state, and national level.
As a healthcare provider, our focus is to care for our patients, caregivers, and organization as part of the greater healthcare community. We will continue to monitor the situation and will update our client resources accordingly.
Testing will be performed at Cleveland Clinic as possible based on operational capacity. Samples may be referred to another laboratory without prior notice if onsite capacity is exceeded. Capacity restrictions and/or external referrals may impact turnaround time (see below for details).
Interested in Sending COVID-19 Specimens for Testing?
Ohio Healthcare Providers
1. Contact Client Services at 1.800.628.6816.
2. Provide your name, organization, and phone number.
If you are a current or previous client, please also provide your Client ID code.
3. A CCL Account Manager will respond to your inquiry within 24 hours.
Please determine your organization’s anticipated daily specimen volumes before the representative calls.
If your organization is currently sending testing and expects an increase in COVID-19 specimen volumes, please contact your CCL Account Representative immediately.
Test Overview
Test Name
Coronavirus 2019 (COVID)
Turnaround Time
1 – 2 days*
Testing is performed 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week
Testing will be performed at Cleveland Clinic as possible based on operational capacity. Samples may be referred to another laboratory without prior notice if onsite capacity is exceeded. Capacity restrictions and/or external referrals may impact turnaround time.
If you are having difficulties obtaining appropriate COVID-19 specimen collection and transport supplies, please contact your CCL Account Manager.
Specimen Requirements
Type:
(1) Nasopharyngeal (NP) Swab – preferred
Volume:
3 mL
Specimen Container:
Mini-Tip Flocked Swab in Universal Transport Media (UTM)
Transport Temperature:
Refrigerated; transport to the laboratories on cold packs or wet ice.
Due to an increase in demand, we are currently unable to provide Universal Transport Media (UTM) & collection swabs.
Alternative Specimens
Type:
(1) Oropharyngeal (OP) Swab
Volume:
3 mL
Specimen Container:
Regular Tip Flocked Swab in Universal Transport Media (UTM)
Transport Temperature:
Refrigerated; transport to the laboratories on cold packs or wet ice.
Due to an increase in demand, we are currently unable to provide Universal Transport Media (UTM) & collection swabs.
Alternative Specimens
Type:
(1) Nasopharyngeal (NP) swab, or
(1) Nasal (anterior nares) swab
Volume:
3 mL
Specimen Container:
Saline solution
Transport Temperature:
Refrigerated; transport to the laboratories on cold packs or wet ice.
Alternative Specimens
NP/OP swabs (shown above) are the preferred specimen type.
Type:
Lower respiratory specimens: sputum or bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL)
Volume:
3 mL
Specimen Container:
Sterile specimen container
Transport Temperature:
Refrigerated; transport to the laboratories on cold packs or wet ice.
Stability
Ambient:
Unacceptable
Refrigerated (2-8ºC):
72 hours
Frozen:
Up to 30 days
Rejection Criteria
Swabs used for Group A Strep testing are not acceptable.
Patient Demographics & Reporting
Due to mandatory reporting for COVID-19 testing, additional patient demographic information is needed to complete a test order.
Failure to provide the required information will result in delayed testing.
Cleveland Clinic will report positive test results to the Ohio Department of Health (ODH).
The Following Information is Required:
Patient
• First & last name
• Guardian’s name
(for patients 16 years old and under)
• Date of birth
• Sex
• Race/ethnicity
• Current home address
(street, city, county, state, zip code)
• Primary telephone number
• Insurance details
Specimen
• Collection date
• Collection time
• First & last name of the collector
• Specimen type (e.g., NP swab, sputum)
Healthcare Provider
• First & last name
• Address
(street, city, county, state, zip code)
• Phone number
For Mandatory US Department of Health & Human Services Reporting:
1. Is the patient being tested for COVID-19 for the first time?
2. Are they employed in health care?
3. Is the patient symptomatic as defined by CDC? (If yes, please indicate Date of Symptom onset)
4. Are they currently hospitalized?
5. Are they currently admitted to an ICU?
6. Is the patient a resident in a congregate care setting (e.g., nursing home, residential care for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, psychiatric treatment facility, group home, board & care home, homeless shelter, foster care, or other setting)?
7. Is the patient pregnant?
Specimen Collection Instructions
You will need:
• Personal protective equipment (PPE)
• (1) tube of transport medium
– Universal Transport Media (UTM)
– Viral Transport Media (VTM)*
– Saline solution
• (1) swab
• Patient identification labels
Before you begin:
• Confirm the patient’s name and date of birth.
• Wash your hands, then put on personal protective equipment, including gloves.
If you are having difficulties obtaining appropriate COVID-19 specimen collection and transport supplies, please contact your CCL Account Manager.
Nasopharyngeal (NP)/Oropharyngeal (OP) Swabs:
Step 1:
Carefully remove the swab from the packaging without touching the tip.
Step 2a – for nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs:
– Gently insert the NP swab along the nasal septum just above the floor of the passage to the nasopharynx until resistance is met.
– Rotate the swab gently against the nasopharyngeal mucosa for 10 – 15 seconds, then remove.
Step 2b – for oropharyngeal (OP) swabs:
– Insert the OP swab into the back of the patient’s throat and gently swab the tonsillar pillars and posterior oropharynx.
Avoid touching the patient’s teeth, gums, and tongue.
Step 3:
Remove the cap from the tube, then insert the swab all the way to the bottom of the vial.
Step 4:
While holding the tube away from your face, bend the swab in the vial at a 180-degree angle to break at the marked breakpoint.
Step 5:
Close the tube tightly. If possible, wrap the cap with Parafilm.
Any leaking specimens will be rejected.
Step 6:
Label specimen with the printed label or write the patient’s first & last name, date of birth, and the date, time, and site of collection (e.g., NP or OP) on the tube.
Step 7:
Double-bag the specimen, place on wet ice, then refrigerate.
Step 8:
Complete a Coronavirus 2019 (COVID) Test Requisition.
Please ensure to provide the required Patient Demographics.
Step 9:
Place the completed requisition in the pocket of the specimen bag.
Do not place any paperwork in the part of the bag containing the specimen.
Step 10:
For the fastest turnaround time, deliver the specimen directly to the Main Campus LL Building Specimen Receiving Area:
Cleveland Clinic Laboratories
10300 Carnegie Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44106
Need a COVID-19 Test Requisition?
Contact your CCL Account Manager or Client Services.
Unacceptable Specimen Types
If you are unsure if a specific viral transport media (VTM) is accepted for testing, please contact Client Services for assistance.
Refer to the FDA’s Letter to Healthcare Providers regarding Transport Media Safety Risk for additional guidance.
Due to incompatibilities with our COVID-19 testing laboratory equipment, Cleveland Clinic Laboratories has determined that specimens in the following media are not acceptable for COVID-19 testing performed by CCL:
Beaver Biomedical Viral Transport Media (VTM)
NEST Solution for swab sample collection, transportation and storage
Supply Update: Universal Transport Media (UTM) Swabbing Kits
Due to an increase in demand, we are currently unable to provide Universal Transport Media (UTM) swabbing kits.
The following Universal Transport Media collection kits are equivalent to the Copan UTM & Swab Kits (Mini-Tip Swab: 403C Green; Regular Swab: 402C Pink) previously provided by Cleveland Clinic Laboratories:
• BD UVT Kit: 220531
• Quidel UTM and Swab Set: 403C
• Copan UTM-RT: 305C
Cleveland Clinic Laboratories will notify clients when UTM swab kits are back in stock and available to order.
If you are having difficulties obtaining appropriate COVID-19 specimen collection and transport supplies, please contact your CCL Account Manager.
