NOTE: The following collection instructions are from the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s internet site.  Packaging information is from the CDC internet site.  Personal Protective Equipment and Precautions required are not addressed in these instructions.  Sinai’s safety precautions should be strictly adhered to during collection and packaging of any sample considered to contain a bioterrorist associated organism or agent.

Collection

Specimens to be collected include:

• Fluid from base of vesicle – collect with sterile cotton-tipped swab and place fluid on clean glass slide, let slide air-dry then place into seal-able slide holder for shipping to CDC.
  
• Scraping from base of vesicle – use blunt edge of scalpel then place blade with material on it into screw-capped plastic container for shipping to CDC
  
• Serum sample – use plastic serum separator tube, or allow whole blood to separate then draw off serum and place into screw-capped plastic vial for shipping to CDC
  
• Unclotted whole blood – Draw 5cc into plastic purple-topped tube and seal with parafilm prior to shipping to CDC.

http://bioterrorism.dhmh.state.md.us/pg2_smallpox.htm accessed July 10, 2003.