Biosafety in Sample Collection and Shipping

Sample Collection and Shipping

• Transport, biosafety, and disinfection are crucial for sample collection and shipping.
• Learning objectives include understanding biosafety principles, pathogen transport methods, biosafety levels in labs, and general disinfection practices.

Laboratory Biosafety

• WHO defines laboratory biosafety as containment principles, technologies, and practices designed to avoid unintentional exposure to pathogens or toxins, or their accidental release.

Principles of Biosafety

• Biosafety principles protect patients, the individual handling the samples, and the surrounding environment.

Air Transport of Infectious Substances

• International Air Transportation Association (IATA) guidelines for infectious substances shipping are used.
• The UN and ICAO have established regulations related to the transport of infectious substances, and IATA guidelines adhere to these standards.

Transport Regulations (1)

• Infectious substances transport is regulated by national and international laws.
• Regulations emphasize proper packaging, labeling, and notification.

Transport Regulations (2)

• Transport regulations are subject to revisions and amendments.
• Regulations necessitate compliance with the most recent national and global requirements.
• Local guidelines supersede international guidelines where applicable.

How to Select a Laboratory

• Laboratory selection depends on the specimen type, required analysis, and lab capabilities.
• Evaluate lab capacity before sample shipment.
• Analyze specimen type, consider specific laboratory requirements (e.g., Ebola diagnosis).
• Identify recipient and relevant lab before shipment.
• Consider available transportation options and the timing of the process.
• Factor in the capacity of various lab options ( national reference labs, WHO collaborating centres, hospital labs, network labs).

What to Include on a Request Form

• Specimen collection date and time are necessary.
• Epidemiological data ( patient identifiers, age, sex, etc.) to help link laboratory and epidemiological data.
• Details of suspected clinical diagnoses and major symptoms.
• Contextual information about potential outbreaks or routine surveillance is needed.
• Sender's name(s) and contact information.

Triple Packaging

• Triple packaging is important to protect the environment, the carrying material, and the specimen itself.
• It protects goods during transport while adhering to international dangerous goods transport rules, and guidelines provided by the IATA.

The Basic Triple Packaging System

• Three layers of protection ensure safe specimen transport: primary receptacle, secondary packaging, and outer packaging.
• IATA guidelines specify details about packaging requirements, markings, labeling, documentation, and proper refrigerant usage.

The Basic Triple Packaging System: Primary Receptacle

• Leak-proof, specimen containers.
• Sufficient absorbent material to absorb the entire primary receptacle content.

The Basic Triple Packaging System: Secondary Receptacle

• Leak-proof secondary containers.
• Encloses and protects the primary receptacle(s).
• May contain multiple cushioned primary receptacles.

The Basic Triple Packaging System: Outer Packaging

• Outer packaging cushions secondary packaging to protect it from damage during transit.
• Outer packaging should have a small enough overall dimension, e.g. dimensions of 10cm by 10cm

Infectious Substances Included in Category A

• Highly pathogenic microorganisms.
• List of these microorganisms is available.
• This includes Haemorrhagic fever agents and Variola virus.
• Also, includes other pathogens dangerous only in culture (important for lab personnel).

Key Principles: Dangerous Goods

• Infectious materials are classified as Category B and A.
• Different packaging and marking specifications are applicable to each category.
• Category B Infectious substances can be shipped inside a “602” package provided labelling and marking comply with standards.
• Category A Infectious substances are not permitted in a "650" package.

Category A

• A list of specific infectious biological substances is given, and each can only be sent as a culture.