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Specimen Submission Information and Forms

State Health Departments: Review the following guidelines and use the following forms to submit specimens to CDC. Forms are available online or by calling 404-639-1510. Forms are offered in Adobe Acrobat Reader (PDF) format.

U.S. Physicians: Contact your state health department before sending specimens to CDC. For links to state health departments visit the "Information Networks and Other Information Sources" page on the main CDC website.

Non U.S. Physicans: Because of the hazard associated with handling specimens, testing is done only with prior consultation. Consultation is available 24 hours a day at 404-639- 2888.  During business hours (8:00-4:30 EST) call SPB at 404-639-1115; FAX 404-639- 1118 or 404-639-1509.

Private Citizens: Individuals, other than physicians or appropriate state health department employees, may not submit specimens to CDC for testing. If you feel that diagnostic testing is necessary, consult your physician or state health department.

Guidelines and Forms Go to top of page

Guidelines for Submitting Specimens to Special Pathogens Branch
Explains types of specimens that can be sent and shipping requirements.


html version HTML version
acrobat PDF version

Specimen Submission Form
Download the form below. Fill it out and include it with your specimen(s). The form here is available only in PDF format. If you need a copy faxed to you, please call 404-639-1510.

Special Pathogens Branch Specimen Submission Form


To fill out form electronically, please see directions below.

Hantavirus submission
If you are submitting hantavirus specimens, please refer to the HPS Submission Guidelines and Case Report Forms (located on the "All About Hantaviruses" website).

To fill out form electronically: Go to top of page
  • Select the hand tool. 
  • Position the hand pointer inside a form field and click. The I-beam pointer allows you to type text. The arrow pointer allows you to select a check box.
  • Press Tab to go to the next form field.
  • Press Shift+Tab to return to the previous field.
  • Once you are done filling the form, use the printer button on the Acrobat Reader toolbar menu to print the form. Please note, the free Acrobat Reader does not allow you to save your completed forms to disk-- you can only print the filled out forms. The ability to save filled out forms is only available commercially with the Adobe Acrobat (version 3.0 or higher) software

Acrobat The guidelines and form are available in Adobe Acrobat Reader format (PDF). To view or print them, you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader (version 3.0 or higher) installed on your computer. If you do not have the reader, you can obtain it free from Adobe Corporation. Click on the icon below to download the program from their Web site.

Get Adobe Acrobat Reader

Electonically filled forms can be printed. The ability to save filled forms is only available commercially with the Adobe Acrobat (version 3.0 or higher) software.

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This page last reviewed October 7, 2008

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