Guidelines of patient preparation for sample collection for real-time PCR test
- It is preferable to perform sampling before any medical diagnostic or therapeutic manipulations.
- Refrain from urinating for two to three hours.
- Refrain from sexual contacts for three days before testing.
- For one 14 days before the test, stop taking antimicrobial and antimycotic drugs.
- Women shall suspend vaginal douching and using vaginal suppositories, ointments, tampons for three days before the test. Sampling shall not be performed during menstruation (it is allowed three days after its completion).
- Stop using topical drugs for 48 to 72 hours before sampling.
- If urine is sampled, the morning portion shall be collected (approximately 50 ml) into a sterile container and the cap closed tightly. Before the collection of sample, it is advisable to insert a gynecological tampon into vagina.
- If women’s urogenital tract biocenose is evaluated:
- the study is recommended to be performed during ovulation (roughly in the middle of the menstrual cycle) or of symptoms of an inflammatory condition of the urogenital tract are present;
- Refrain from urinating for two to three hours;
- Refrain from sexual contacts for five days before the test;
- Refrain from vaginal douching three to five days before the test;
- The test shall not be performed earlier than 24 to 48 hours after colposcopy;
- The test shall not be performed earlier than 24 hours after any ultrasonography tests that involved a vaginal probe;
- The test shall be performed no sooner than two weeks after the administration of pharmaceuticals (probiotics, eubiotics) that contain microorganisms;
- The test shall be performed no sooner than 10 days after the administration of antibacterial pharmaceuticals or topical antiseptics;
- The test must not be performed during a menstrual bleeding;
- The test must not be performed during the administration of gonadotropin releasing hormones.