--- title: When should I collect my sample? description: You can collect your sample whenever it is most convenient for you. --- [Skip to content](https://support.getteal.com/when-should-i-collect-my-sample#main-content) [![Teal-Health-Help CenterLogo\_Primary-RGB](https://support.getteal.com/hubfs/Teal-Health-Help%20CenterLogo_Primary-RGB.svg)](https://support.getteal.com/?hsLang=en) - [Top 6 FAQs](https://support.getteal.com/what-are-the-top-questions-people-have-about-screening-and-mailing-the-sample) - At-Home Screening Show submenu for At-Home Screening - [Teal Wand](https://www.getteal.com/teal-wand) - [Primary HPV Testing](https://www.getteal.com/primary-hpv-test) - [When to Screen](https://www.getteal.com/cervical-cancer-screening-guidelines) - [At-home vs In-clinic](https://www.getteal.com/how-self-collect-compares) - [Clinical Trial](https://www.getteal.com/research/u-s-clinical-study-demonstrates-94-of-women-prefer-at-home-cervical-cancer-screening) - About Us Show submenu for About Us - [About Teal Health](https://www.getteal.com/about-us) - [Meet Our Providers](https://www.getteal.com/medical-providers) - [Equal Care](https://www.getteal.com/equal-care-for-all) - [Research](https://www.getteal.com/teal-research) - [News](https://www.getteal.com/news) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Top 6 FAQs](https://support.getteal.com/what-are-the-top-questions-people-have-about-screening-and-mailing-the-sample) - At-Home Screening Show submenu for At-Home Screening - [Teal Wand](https://www.getteal.com/teal-wand) - [Primary HPV Testing](https://www.getteal.com/primary-hpv-test) - [When to Screen](https://www.getteal.com/cervical-cancer-screening-guidelines) - [At-home vs In-clinic](https://www.getteal.com/how-self-collect-compares) - [Clinical Trial](https://www.getteal.com/research/u-s-clinical-study-demonstrates-94-of-women-prefer-at-home-cervical-cancer-screening) - About Us Show submenu for About Us - [About Teal Health](https://www.getteal.com/about-us) - [Meet Our Providers](https://www.getteal.com/medical-providers) - [Equal Care](https://www.getteal.com/equal-care-for-all) - [Research](https://www.getteal.com/teal-research) - [News](https://www.getteal.com/news) - [getteal.com](https://www.getteal.com/) [getteal.com](https://www.getteal.com/?hsLang=en) How can we help you? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Teal Health Help Center](https://support.getteal.com/?hsLang=en) 2. [Self-Collecting with the Teal Wand](https://support.getteal.com/self-collecting-with-the-teal-wand?hsLang=en) # When should I collect my sample? You can collect your sample whenever it is most convenient for you. It takes most people about 5 minutes to collect their sample with the Teal Wand, but you may want to plan for a little extra time to [read the instructions](https://support.getteal.com/how-do-i-collect-a-sample?hsLang=en) and get comfortable. **Please use the Teal Wand to collect a sample as soon as possible after your Teal screening box arrives.** Like many single-use medical devices, the Teal Wand does have an expiration date. We track all expiration dates and will not send you a Wand that is close to expiration. There are a few things you should keep in mind when deciding when to collect: - **You need to drop your sample in the United States Postal Service (USPS) mail within 24 hours of collecting it**, so it is best to avoid collecting on days the USPS is closed, such as Sundays and holidays. You can drop it into a standard USPS outgoing mailbox (if it fits), bring it to the USPS post office, or [schedule a USPS pickup](https://tools.usps.com/schedule-pickup-steps.htm) for the day you plan to self-collect. You will also find a QR code on the return shipping mailer, which you can scan to schedule a USPS pickup or find the nearest USPS office.   - **Do not remove the Wand from its packaging until you are ready to collect.** This packaging keeps the Wand protected from exposure or contaminants. - **Please wait to collect if you:** are [pregnant](https://support.getteal.com/can-i-use-the-teal-wand-if-i-am-pregnant-or-recently-gave-birth?hsLang=en), on your [period or bleeding](https://support.getteal.com/can-i-use-the-teal-wand-if-i-am-on-my-period?hsLang=en), have used [vaginal products](https://support.getteal.com/can-i-use-the-teal-wand-if-i-recently-used-vaginal-products?hsLang=en) in the past 48 hours (or 1 week, if you have used Metronidazole Vaginal Gel), or have a [vaginal infection](https://support.getteal.com/can-i-use-the-teal-wand-if-i-have-a-vaginal-infection?hsLang=en). - [General Support](https://support.getteal.com/general-support?hsLang=en) - [Ordering and Shipping](https://support.getteal.com/ordering-and-shipping?hsLang=en) - [Self-Collecting with the Teal Wand](https://support.getteal.com/self-collecting-with-the-teal-wand?hsLang=en) - [Can I Use the Teal Wand If...](https://support.getteal.com/can-i-use-the-teal-wand-if?hsLang=en) - [Screening Results](https://support.getteal.com/screening-results?hsLang=en) - [Cervical Cancer Screening](https://support.getteal.com/cervical-cancer-screening?hsLang=en) - [Top 6 FAQs](https://support.getteal.com/what-are-the-top-questions-people-have-about-screening-and-mailing-the-sample) - At-Home Screening - [Teal Wand](https://www.getteal.com/teal-wand) - [Primary HPV Testing](https://www.getteal.com/primary-hpv-test) - [When to Screen](https://www.getteal.com/cervical-cancer-screening-guidelines) - [At-home vs In-clinic](https://www.getteal.com/how-self-collect-compares) - [Clinical Trial](https://www.getteal.com/research/u-s-clinical-study-demonstrates-94-of-women-prefer-at-home-cervical-cancer-screening) - About Us - [About Teal Health](https://www.getteal.com/about-us) - [Meet Our Providers](https://www.getteal.com/medical-providers) - [Equal Care](https://www.getteal.com/equal-care-for-all) - [Research](https://www.getteal.com/teal-research) - [News](https://www.getteal.com/news) [![Teal-Health-Logo\_Reversed-Mint (2)](https://support.getteal.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Teal-Health-Logo_Reversed-Mint%20(2).png?width=150&height=29&name=Teal-Health-Logo_Reversed-Mint%20(2).png "Teal-Health-Logo_Reversed-Mint (2)")](https://www.getteal.com/?hsLang=en) [mailto:help@tealhealth.co](mailto:help@tealhealth.co) © 2025 Teal Health, Inc. All rights reserved.