COVID-19 PCR Collection Kits
Consistent with O. Reg. 671/92 of the French Language Services Act, laboratory testing information on this page is only available in English because it is scientific or technical in nature and is for use only by qualified health care providers and not by members of the public.
The following chart provides information on collection kits for procurement that are acceptable for COVID-19 PCR testing.
The PHO laboratory has done a limited evaluation on the specimen collection kits listed. These can be used for collection of intended or alternative specimens as indicated in the COVID-19 PCR test information sheet. Specimens collected in acceptable media can also be tested for Respiratory Viruses (including influenza) (including rapid influenza testing and multiplex respiratory virus panel [MRVP]) provided acceptance criteria are met (see asterisks below for exceptions).
The PHO laboratory will accept some specimen types and other liquid transport media not listed on this website (except gel or solid media) for COVID-19 testing; however, if the submitted specimen and/or media type were not validated at PHO Laboratory for COVID-19 testing, the results will be reported with a disclaimer.
Effective April 1, 2023, collection kits are ordered through the PPE Supply Portal.
Some collection kits may have expiration dates extensions beyond the manufacturer label. The list of expiry extensions for COVID-19 testing products is available through the Ontario Health COVID-19 Health System Response Materials page.
Tables last updated as of March 19, 2024.
Specimen Collection Kits (Saliva) Available through Supply Ontario
| Collection Kit (Catalogue #) | Description | Test Options Available |
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Saliva collection: neat (with funnel)
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A sterile empty tube with a funnel Note: Media cap may vary in colour and vial may vary in shape Media Type: no media |
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Saliva collection: neat (with SDNA- 2000 Spectrum Kits)
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A sterile empty tube, funnel, and cap that contains blue coloured transport media Media Type: guanidine/guanidinium-based |
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Specimen Transport Media (no swabs) Available through Supply Ontario
| Media Type (Catalogue #) | Description | Test Options Available |
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Copan Media (CA305MH)
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3mL vial of media Media Type: VTM/UTM |
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| McMaster Molecular Medium (no image available) | 2mL vial of McMaster Molecular Medium Media Type: Guanidine/Guanidinium-based** |
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Yocon Media (STC-110)
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3.0 mL vial of pink media Media Type: VTM/UTM |
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Specimen Collection Swabs (no transport media) Available through Supply Ontario
At this time, there are no dedicated neonatal nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs available in Ontario. Current advice is to collect an NP swab when testing neonates for COVID-19. If the calibre of the available swab is too wide for NP swabbing, the swab can be used for alternative collection methods. Swab Type (Catalogue #) Description Test Options Available
| Swab Type (Catalogue #) | Description | Test Options Available |
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i-Clean Swab (CY-93050)
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i-Clean wide-tipped flocked swab Breakpoint: 78mm |
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Miraclean (MSC-96000/STC200) NP Swab
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Mantacc Miraclean nylon disposable sampling swab, narrow-tipped flocked swab Breakpoint: 80 mm |
*Wherever possible, Nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs should be reserved for NP swabbing methods, and other swab types (oral/nasal) are to be used for non-NP or alternative specimen collection methods. If other swab types are unavailable, NP swabs may be used for alternative specimen collection methods.
**Due to the media type (typically guanidine/guanidium-based), these specimens are NOT suitable for rapid influenza testing (the immunochromatographic rapid influenza test used for institutional outbreak testing). For more information, refer to the Virus Respiratory for influenza outbreak testing algorithm.
*** These specimen collection media types are only suitable for COVID-19 virus testing and NOT suitable for other Respiratory viruses (including influenza) testing.
Specimen Collection Kits No Longer Distributed in Ontario
| Collection Kit (Catalogue #) | Description | Test Options Available |
| Accuviral NP Kit (no image available) | Accugene-Accuviral Kit with Media and NP swab |
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BD Kit (B220531 or B220528)  |
3mL vial of media Media Type: VTM/UTM Swab Type: sterile mini-tip swab or sterile nylon flocked tip swab (100mm breakpoint) |
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Beaver Kit (43903)  |
3mL vial of clear media and flocked “specimen collection swab” (80mm breakpoint) Media Type: Buffered saline |
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Copan Kit (CA302MH)  |
3mL vial of media and standard flocked swab (100mm breakpoint) Media Type: VTM/UTM |
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Copan Kit (CA305MH)  |
3mL vial of media and pernasal flocked swab (100mm breakpoint) Media Type: VTM/UTM |
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Copan Pediatric Midturbinate Swab Kit (CA56750CS01)
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3mL vial of media and pediatric mid-turbinate flocked swab (55mm breakpoint) Media Type: VTM/UTM |
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Deaou Kit
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3mL vial of media and “disposable sampling swab” (80mm breakpoint) Media Type: Guanidine/ Guanidinium-based** |
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ESBE EZ Pro Kit (ESB-VA50005NP)
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EZ Pro Transport Medium Swab Kit w/ 2mL vial of clear media and “sterile collection swab” (85mm breakpoint) Media Type: Guanidine/ Guanidinium-based** |
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GDL Korea Kit
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2 mL vial of pink media and nylon flocked swab (95mm breakpoint) Media Type: VTM/UTM |
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Han Chang I-Swab |
I-swab, narrow-tipped flocked swab Breakpoint: 95 mm |
|
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Hologic (Aptima) Multitest Swab Kit (PRD-03546)
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Multitest Swab Specimen Collection Kit w/ 2.9 mL vial of media and woven multitest swab (75mm breakpoint) Media Type:Specimen Transport Media** |
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Hologic (Aptima) Unisex Swab Kit (301041)
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Unisex Swab Specimen Collection Kit w/ 2.9mL vial of media and woven collection swab (75mm breakpoint) Note: Kit also contains a cleaning swab that is not suitable for testing. Media Type:Specimen Transport Media** |
|
McMaster Molecular Medium paired with Miraclean STC-200 NP swab |
2mL vial of McMaster Molecular Medium Miraclean flocked “disposable sampling swab” (95mm breakpoint) Media Type: Guanidine/ Guanidinium-based** |
|
Micronostynx Goodcare /Goodwood NP Swab |
Goodwood Medical Care narrow-tipped flocked swab Breakpoint: 80 mm |
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Microbix DxTM Transport Media (VTM-64-03) |
3mL vial of media Media Type: VTM/UTM |
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Microbix DxTM transport Media (VTM-64-03)
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3mL vial of media and flocked swab (70 mm breakpoint) Media Type: VTM/UTM |
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Miraclean Kit
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Disposable Sampling Kit w/ 2mL vial of pink media and flocked “disposable sampling swab” (95mm breakpoint) Media Type: VTM/UTM |
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Norgen Media paired with i-Clean swab (68803 + CY-96000)
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3mL vial of media and narrow-tipped flocked swab (90mm breakpoint) Media Type: Guanidine/ Guanidinium-based** |
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Norgen media paired with i-Clean swab (68803 + CY-93050)
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3mL vial of media and flocked “specimen collection swab” (78mm breakpoint). Media Type: Guanidine/ Guanidinium-based** |
|
| Oxoid Kit (OXRE12568) (no image available) |
M6 Kit w/ 3mL vial of media and traditional-tipped flocked swab Media Type: VTM/UTM |
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Oxoid Kit (OXRE12569)
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M6 Kit w/ 3mL vial of media and micro-tipped flocked swab Media Type: VTM/UTM |
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Oxoid media paired with Puritan NP swab (R12505 + 25-3317-H)
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3mL of Remel M4RT media Puritan sterile flocked swab (105mm breakpoint) Media Type: VTM/UTM |
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Oxoid Remel M4RT Media |
3mL of Remel M4RT media Media Type: VTM/UTM |
|
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PHO in-house media paired with Copan swab (220252)
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3mL of PHO media with Copan FLOQ swab (100mm breakpoint) Note: Media cap may vary in colour and vial may vary in shape Media Type: PBS |
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PHO in-house media paired with i-Clean swab (CY-96000)
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3mL of PHO media with i-Clean narrow-tipped flocked swab (80mm breakpoint) Note: Media cap may vary in colour and vial may vary in shape Media Type: PBS |
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PHO in-house media paired with Puritan swab (25-3317-H)
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3mL of PHO media with Puritan sterile flocked swab (105mm breakpoint) Note: Media cap may vary in colour and vial may vary in shape Media Type: PBS* |
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Roche media paired with Copan swab (06466281190 + 220252)
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4.3mL of Roche Cobas PCR Media Copan FLOQ swab (100mm breakpoint) Media Type: Guanidine/ Guanidinium-based** |
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Roche media paired with i-Clean swab (06466281190 + CY-96000)
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4.3mL of Roche Cobas PCR Media i-Clean narrow-tipped flocked swab (80mm breakpoint) Media Type: Guanidine/ Guanidinium-based** |
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Roche media paired with Miraclean swab (06466281190)
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4.3mL of Roche Cobas PCR Media Miraclean flocked “disposable sampling swab” (95mm breakpoint) Media Type: Guanidine/ Guanidinium-based** |
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Roche media paired with Puritan swab (06466281190 + 25-3317-H)
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4.3mL of Roche Cobas PCR Media Puritan sterile flocked swab (105mm breakpoint) Media Type: Guanidine/ Guanidinium-based** |
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Roche media paired with Sensor Health swab (06466281190)
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4.3mL of Roche Cobas PCR Media Sensor Health flocked “sampling swab” (80mm breakpoint) Media Type: Guanidine/ Guanidinium-based** |
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Roche Dual Swab Kit (07958021190)
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Cobas PCR Media Dual Swab Sample Packet w/ 4.3mL vial of media, 1 woven tip swab, and 1 flocked tip swab (70mm breakpoint) Media Type: Guanidine/ Guanidinium-based** Note: Although this kit comes prepackaged with two swabs, only one of the two swabs should be used. |
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Roche + CHS Flocked Swab Kit (85-1052)
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4.3mL of Roche Cobas PCR Media w/ flocked tip swab (70mm breakpoint) Media Type: Guanidine/ Guanidinium-based** |
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Roche Uni Swab Kit (07958030190)
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Cobas PCR Media Uni Swab Sample Packet w/ 4.3mL vial of media and woven tip swab (70mm breakpoint) Media Type: Guanidine/ Guanidinium-based** |
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Roche + CHS Woven Swab Kit (85-1051)
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4.3mL of Roche Cobas PCR Media w/ woven tip swab (70mm breakpoint) Media Type: Guanidine/ Guanidinium-based** |
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Sensor Health Kit
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3mL vial of media and unscored foam-tipped swab w/ sterile scissors Media Type: PBS Note: Swab does not have a breakpoint; must be cut manually Steps for cutting swab |
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S-Stick Swab |
Woven-tipped swab Breakpoint: 92 mm |
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Saliva – neat - straw
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A sterile empty tube and straw Media Type: No Media |
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Saliva: mouth rinse (“swish and gargle”) with straw
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A sterile empty tube, straw, and 5 ml packet of saline rinse Media Type: no media |
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Saliva: mouth rinse (“swish and gargle”) with funnel
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A sterile empty tube, funnel, and 5 ml packet of saline rinse Media Type: no media |
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Starplex Multitrans Kit (CA66410-030) |
Starswab Multitrans System w/ 2mL vial of pink media and woven sterile collection swab (100mm breakpoint) Media Type: VTM/UTM |
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Trinity Biotech Media (Bartels FlexTrans) |
2mL of Bartels FlexTrans media Note: Cap may vary in colour Media Type: VTM/UTM |
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Trinity Biotech media paired with Beaver swab (B1029-90D)
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2mL of Bartels FlexTrans media with Beaver flocked “specimen collection swab” (80mm breakpoint) Note: Cap may vary in colour Media Type: VTM/UTM |
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Trinity Biotech media paired with i-Clean swab (B1029-90D + CY-96000)
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2mL of Bartels FlexTrans media with i-Clean narrow-tipped flocked swab (80mm breakpoint) Note: Cap may vary in colour Media Type: VTM/UTM |
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Trinity Biotech media paired with Miraclean swab (B1029-90D)
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2mL of Bartels FlexTrans media with Miraclean flocked “disposable sampling swab” (95mm breakpoint) Note: Cap may vary in colour Media Type: VTM/UTM |
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Trinity Biotech media paired with Sensor Health swab (B1029-90D) (no image available) |
2mL of Bartels FlexTrans media with Sensor Health flocked “sampling swab” (80mm breakpoint) Note: Cap may vary in colour Media Type: VTM/UTM |
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Yocon (Bionuclear) Kit (STC-120)
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2.5 mL vial of pink media and Yocon “flocked swab” (80mm breakpoint) Media Type: VTM/UTM |
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Yocon (Bionuclear) Kit (STC-110)
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3.0 mL vial of pink media and Yocon “flocked swab” (80mm breakpoint) Media Type: VTM/UTM |
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*Wherever possible, Nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs should be reserved for NP swabbing methods, and other swab types (oral/nasal) are to be used for non-NP or alternative specimen collection methods. If other swab types are unavailable, NP swabs may be used for alternative specimen collection methods.
**Due to the media type (typically guanidine/guanidium-based), these specimens are NOT suitable for rapid influenza testing (the immunochromatographic rapid influenza test used for institutional outbreak testing). For more information, refer to the Respiratory Viruses Test Information Sheet (including influenza) for influenza outbreak testing algorithm.*** These specimen collection media types are only suitable for COVID-19 virus testing and NOT suitable for otherRespiratory Viruses Test Information Sheet (including influenza) testing.
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