1 

This document provides supplemental guidance regarding specimen collection, storage, and shipping to CDC 

laboratories in addition to the guidance available on CDC’s website regarding infection prevention and control in 

healthcare settings; biosafety for specimen handling; and specimen collection, storage, and shipping.

All specimens must be labeled with: 

• Patient (or contact) date of birth 

• CDC or state-generate nCoV ID (formerly PUI ID) 

• Specimen type 

• Date collected 

Each specimen must be accompanied by a completed CDC Form 50.34 (AKA DASH form). 

https://www.cdc.gov/laboratory/specimen-submission/pdf/form-50-34.pdf

Do NOT fill in form by hand. Drop downs MUST be used if they exist. 

Patient information on the specimen tube and 50.34/DASH form must match exactly to prevent delays. 

Confirm prioritized items below were electronically entered in the 50.34/DASH in proper location displayed above: 

• State Public Health Lab Patient ID 

• State Public Health Lab Specimen ID 

• CDC or state-generated nCoV ID (i.e. 0001021 or NC101847794) 

Complete the remaining required fields in the 50.34/DASH: 

• Patient first name and last name 

• Patient date of birth 

• State Public Health Laboratory contact information including full name, title, complete mailing address, email 

address, telephone, and fax number of the submitter

• Specimen collected date 

• Specimen source (type) 

• State of Illness 

GUIDELINES FOR SUBMITTING SPECIMENS TO CDC 

FOR LABORATORY TESTING FOR SARS-CoV-2 

SPECIMEN COLLECTION AND LABELING

50.34/DASH DOCUMENTATION AND SUBMISSION
2 

In the upper left-hand corner of the form, to ensure proper routing: 

• For “Test order name”, select “Respiratory virus molecular detection (non-influenza)” (CDC-10401) 

• For “Suspected Agent”, select “Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)” 

You must include the 50.34/DASH form in the package and send a secure email with the 50.34/DASH form to: 

vtw6@cdc.gov, zbg7@cdc.gov, DSRstat@cdc.gov, eocevent185@cdc.gov, eocevent331@cdc.gov, 

eocevent177@cdc.gov

Include tracking number and nCoV IDs in the body of the email. 

Specimens can be received at CDC seven days a week, but the specific instructions below should be 

followed for weekend deliveries in order to ensure receipt. 

Monday – Thursday Shipments: 

Ship overnight using your usual courier such as FedEx or UPS to the following address: 

ATTN: STATT Lab: COVID 2019 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 

1600 Clifton Road, NE 

Atlanta, Georgia, 30333 

Telephone: 404-639-3931 

Email: dsrstat@cdc.gov

Friday, Saturday, Sunday, or holiday shipments:

• Email the following information to CDC IMS Logistics Transportation (eocevent306@cdc.gov) and CDC IMS 

Logistics Section Chief (CDC) (eoclogchief@cdc.gov) 

o Name and contact information for the person who will be handing the package to the courier 

o Address of where the package will be picked up 

o Estimated time the package will be ready 

o Number, rough dimensions, and rough weight of the package(s) 

o Whether package contains cold pack, dry ice, or other 

o CDC nCoV ID or state generated nCoV ID 

• Email the above information to CDC IMS Logistics Transportation (eocevent306@cdc.gov) and CDC IMS Logistics 

Section Chief (CDC) (eoclogchief@cdc.gov) 

• Call the CDC Emergency Operations Center (770-488-7100) to arrange weekend-specific overnight specimen

logistics. Please indicate that the call is about coronavirus specimen shipping and please have the CDC nCoV ID 

or state generated nCoV ID number. 

For specimens stored at 2-8°C, all laboratory testing must occur within 72 hours of collection. If a delay in 

shipping is expected, store specimens at -70°C or below. Refrigerated specimens received outside of this 72 

hour window will be rejected.

Specimens should be packed according to International Air Transport Association (IATA) regulations. SARS-CoV-2 

specimens should be packed in compliance with regulations for UN3373 Biological Substance, Category B. A packaging 

checklist is available for reference. For specific instructions, refer to CDC’s Packing, Shipping, and Transport guidance

(last section). 

Version 1.2, March 9, 2020 

SPECIMEN SHIPPING 

PREPARING SPECIMENS FOR SHIPMENT