Patient Management How are other practices doing testing and who should collect the specimen? One of our family practice physicians shared her COVID-19 Toolkit, which includes testing protocols. It is an individual choice of the practice as to who will collect the specimen. One practice described the process as exactly like that for a rapid flu test, so most providers and medical assistants were comfortable with the process. Some, out of concern of exposing their employees, decided only providers would collect the specimen. Other providers who believed their medical assistants were capable of collecting the specimen safely allowed them to collect. And, some providers are implementing patient self-testing. Whatever process is implemented for your practice, it is important to train all involved employees on using PPE and the proper specimen collection process. News & Knowledge All Curi recommendations are based on current CDC criteria at the time of publication. CDC guidance for SARS-CoV-2 infection may, or may not, be adopted by state and local health departments to respond to rapidly changing local circumstances. Providers should always check with their local health department to see if the CDC’s guidance on any given topic has been modified (particularly if more restrictive) from the CDC’s recommended guidelines. Follow this link https://www.cdc.gov/publichealthgateway/healthdirectories/index.html for contact information to your state/local health department. If local recommendations vary from those of the CDC, and you are unsure what recommendations to follow, then it is safer to follow the more restrictive guidelines/recommendations.