Checklist for Packaging and Shipping Diagnostic Specimens - PDF
Checklist for Packaging and Shipping Category A Infectious Substances
- PDF
General Submission Information
New shipping guidelines have been
developed based on the requirements contained in the IATA Dangerous
Goods Shipping Regulations for the transport of
Diagnostic Specimens.
Briefly, all
diagnostic specimens must be shipped in packaging of good quality,
strong enough to withstand the shock and loading normally encountered
during transport. Packaging must consist of three components:
1. a primary
receptacle;
2. a secondary
packaging;
3. a rigid outer
packaging.
The primary
receptacle must be packed in such a way that, under normal conditions of
transport, they cannot break, be punctured or leak. Secondary packaging
must be secured in outer packaging with suitable cushioning material and
contain a quantity of absorbent material, that in the case of liquid
release from the primary container, the entire contents will be
absorbed. For complete information on packing instructions for
Diagnostic Specimens, see
Packing Instructions 650. If you have a question concerning shipment
of Diagnostic Specimens, please contact the Diagnostic Laboratory."
Serum Submission
Sample Identification: Tube numbers should be easily distinguishable from animal
ID. Tubes should be numbered to indicate the order on the submission form and be in
consecutive order. If samples from several sites or farms are sent to the lab in the same
package, please label tubes so it is clear whose samples are whose. Use permanent ink.
Sample Preparation: Blood should be allowed to clot at room
temperature before refrigerating or centrifuging. Protect blood samples from direct
sunlight, extreme heat, and freezing. Refrigerate when clotting is complete if
centrifugation will be done hours later. Note that serum separator tubes require
centrifugation for a minimum of 10 minutes at 2,000 rpm. Provide at least 0.5 ml of
serum/test requested. Make sure there are no erythrocytes in the serum because they
interfere with certain tests.
Sample Shipping:
Please send tubes in a box with dividers, organized in chart order.
Do Not Send Tubes in a Bag or an Envelope.
Ship overnight: protect from freezing in winter and heat in summer.
Tissue Submission
Formalin-fixed tissues: Protect formalin - fixed specimens from freezing. Protect
formalized samples from direct contact with frozen packs OR frozen specimens as this may
result in freezing of the fixed tissue and cause tissue artifacts. Ten percent neutral
buffered formalin is the fixative of choice. Place tissue in fixative as soon as possible.
Tissue volume should be less than 1/10th that of the formalin solution. Slices should be
no thicker than 1 cm. Use wide mouthed, leak proof containers and pack with absorbent
material in case a leak does occur. A tissue that is fresh and pliable can easily be put
into a narrow mouthed jar, but it becomes hard when fixed and cannot be readily removed.
Fresh tissues:
Fresh tissues should be collected and placed in sealed, waterproof
containers, refrigerated and shipped on frozen gel packs or the
equivalent according to
Packing Instructions 650, as mandated for shipping diagnostic
specimens. Do not freeze.
Special requests: Some samples may require different fixation
or handling procedures. Please contact the laboratory prior to taking these samples.
Samples from a necropsy. Submit sections of lesions and
samples of major organs.
Surgical pathology samples. Provide pertinent clinical
history, physical examination findings (distribution and duration of the lesions) and
clinical laboratory findings. Provide a precise description of the lesion that was
biopsied as well as the site of the biopsy. If the lesion was previously biopsied, the
accession number or previous biopsy report is often useful in evaluating whether the
lesion is the same disease process or whether progression or regression has
occurred. Multiple biopsies of skin lesions are often helpful.