@dogtag FYI: I have sent cultures into NJH in Denver that were not refrigerated after I made the sample in the vial and sent it via Fed Ex. I have refrigerated samples after having made them in the vial and then sent them onto Tyler, Texas via FedEX. I am in OKC. All were accepted.
I think some of the lab people, or those who answer, understand and believe it to be one way only and others have different beliefs or information in the same lab or facility. It shouldn't be that way but we all are different in what be believe?????? Don't really know. I had one NJH person tell me, after my original sputum sample was accepted for preparation for my visit a few weeks out that I sent up there via Fed Ex, that it would not be accepted if the sample was made a day or so out from the day NJH received it. That did not make sense to me after my previous experiences etc. Go figure.
Barbara