Specimen Collection Material Ordering Update

To: Health Care Professionals in Niagara
From: Environmental Health and Clinical Services Divisions, Niagara Region Public Health
Reference: Specimen Collection Material Ordering Update
Date: March 12, 2026

Please review the following update from Public Health Ontario (PHO) regarding changes to the provision of specimen collection materials for clinical laboratory testing, effective April 1, 2026.

Specimen Collection Material Ordering Update – Effective April 1, 2026 | Public Health Ontario

Some specialized testing kits will remain available to order from PHO. To order these kits, complete the Requisition for Specimen Containers and Supplies and submit it to your nearest PHO laboratory. Please bookmark and download the latest version of the requisition for each order as printed requisitions will no longer be provided.

The testing kits below will remain available (with order numbers):

Bordetella Pertussis kits (390052)
Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae NAA testing kits (300316 and 300317)
Gastric lavage collection kits for hospital clients only (390043)

Niagara Region Public Health will provide specimen collection materials only when specimens are required for suspected or confirmed outbreak investigations.

Additional information regarding how nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs and gastroenteric kits can be accessed after April 1, 2026 will be shared in a follow-up communication.

For questions related to specimen collection materials for outbreak investigations:

Contact an Environmental Health Duty Officer
- Phone: 905-688-8248 ext. 7590
- Email: inspect@niagararegion.ca

To report a disease of public health significance or for questions related to required testing:

Contact the Infectious Disease Program
- Phone: 905-688-8248 ext. 7330