FBS IV, CASE 6, DIABETES NEPHROPATHY LI: SPECIMEN TRANSPORT TECHNIQUE

WHAT WOULD BE EXPLAINED IN THIS HANDOUT?

I. Specimen Container Danger of Infection Labeling Storage Prior to Arrival in the Laboratory Specimen transport boxes Pneumatic Tube System Samples Carried by Porters Incident Reporting

SPECIMEN CONTAINER The person obtaining the specimen from the patient must ensure that the appropriate specimen primary container, e.g. blood sample tube, universal container, etc., is used for each sample. All containers must be appropriately labelled. All specimen primary containers must be placed in the plastic pouch attached to the request form and the integral sealing strip properly closed to contain any spillage and prevent contamination. Limits all unnecessary hand contact with specimen containers. Makes it easy to identify a leaking container among a batch. Prevents a leaking container from contaminating other containers, request forms, the hands of the person sorting a batch, and the immediate environment. Specimen transport bags must not be used more than once. The expiry date of all primary specimen containers and transport media must be checked prior to use to ensure they are in-date.

II. DANGER OF INFECTION LABELING Samples sent from patients known or clinically suspected of carrying or having active infection caused by Category 3 (or 4) micro-organisms must have BOTH specimen and request form clearly identified using the DANGER OF INFECTION Biohazard label. Category 3 (or 4) or suspected Category 3 (or 4) samples should be segregated from other specimens. Each request form relating to a specimen that presents a danger of infection must contain sufficient clinical information to alert laboratory staff to the risk involved in processing the sample. Although the warning label must be clearly visible, the clinical information need not be conspicuous to other people.

III. STORAGE PRIOR TO ARRIVAL IN THE LABORATORY Suitable containers should be used e.g. vacuum flasks etc. Proper storage and timely transport can minimise deterioration and it is essential that samples are sent to the laboratory as quickly as possible. During transport it is essential that samples are protected from extremes of temperature. Where transport is delayed, samples for the Microbiology and Serology Laboratory should be stored at 4oC. This is particularly important for urine samples as urine is an excellent culture medium and unless refrigerated, overgrowth of organisms will occur. IV. SPECIMEN TRANSPORT BOXES Containers must be constructed of a smooth impervious material with tightly fitting, fastenable lids which will not leak in the event of specimen leakage. Transport boxes must be easily cleaned and disinfected: containers are cleaned and disinfected weekly with 1% Trigene and as and when contaminated. Boxes must not be overfilled or used for any other purpose than carrying specimens. Box lids must be secured and the box transported upright. Each box must be labelled as containing BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL (CATEGORY B) or PATHOLOGICAL MATERIAL. Transport containers should display both the senders and laboratorys address and a telephone number to be contacted in the event of being found unattended. V. PNEUMATIC TUBE SYSTEM The specimens should then be placed in the transport pods in such a way as to reduce the risk of damage. Blood, gas and CSF samples must not be transported in the air tube system but delivered by portering staff. VII. SAMPLE CARRIED BY PORTERS Samples can be delivered by porters to the laboratory in leak-proof specimen transport bags labelled with the universal Biohazard symbol. Patient samples and attached laboratory request forms must both meet Minimum Data Requirements. VIII.INCIDENT REPORTING The risk of breakage or leakage of chemical or other material is extremely small if the samples are packaged correctly and placed in secure transport boxes. Samples should not be forwarded where a leakage is known to have taken place. It is the responsibility of the clinical staff dealing with the patient to deal with any leakage of this kind. http://www.southerntrust.hscni.net/labs/transport.htm