CDC Specimen Test Order and Reporting (CSTOR)

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The CDC Specimen Test Order and Reporting (CSTOR) Web Portal is the central online resource for CDC Infectious Disease (ID) laboratory partners, including the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL), to submit specimens and access test results and reports.

CSTOR Web Portal allows infectious disease specimen submitters to:

  • Request and obtain approval to send samples to CDC for testing
  • Submit specimen data and create shipping paperwork online
  • Validate specimen data and provide submitter support to correct errors and complete missing information
  • View and download test results and reports easily and securely online

Streamlining the Specimen Submission Lifecycle

CSTOR Specimen Test Order and Reporting screenshot

There are seven modules to help submit, track, and access specimen information and test results. These include:

  • Create Test Order Requests – Manage test requests to CDC; CSTOR is updated with the latest Test Order Directory
  • Submit Specimens – Submit specimen data via a web form or import a batch of specimens using any Excel file
  • Ship Packages – Create manifests and packing slips for specimen shipments
  • Check Status – Track the status of test order requests, specimen submissions, and packages
  • View Reports – View and download reports securely, and access test result data in a variety of formats; only accessible for state and federal level organizations
  • Manage Organization – Manage your organization’s information and add or remove users’ access
  • Manage Organizations in My Jurisdiction – Administrators at state and federal organizations may add and remove users in their organization and edit data 

An alternative to CDC Specimen Submission Form 50.34, CSTOR removes manual processes and tracks the status of each submitted specimen. Connected to CDC’s Enterprise Laboratory Information Management System (ELIMS), CSTOR accelerates specimen receipt, reduces processing time, and expedites delays.

Please review the CSTOR Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to learn more about the CSTOR Web Portal. 

Streamlining the Specimen Submission Lifecycle for Original Submitters 

There are five modules available to original and intermediate submitters to help submit, track, and access specimen information. These include:  

  • Create Test Order Requests – Manage test requests to CDC; CSTOR is updated with the latest Test Order Directory 
  • Submit Specimens – Submit specimen data via a web form or import a batch of specimens using any Excel file 
  • Ship Packages – Create manifests and packing slips for specimen shipments 
  • Check Status – Track the status of test order requests, specimen submissions, and packages 
  • Manage Organization – Manage your organization’s information and add or remove users’ access 

Please review the COSO FAQs to learn more about the CSTOR Web Portal. 

If specimen-submitting organizations are interested in using CSTOR, please contact the CSTOR Team.