How to take a laboratory specimen of a bird flu suspected case:
General recommendations:
The right and scientific approach with suspected specimens is a major requirement of safety in the laboratory. Besides, using appropriate instruments when dealing with the specimens helps reduce the risk of infection. Following are some precautionary measures to reduce the possibility of infection in laboratories:
- Standard precautions: using the personal protective equipment (PPE): facemask (N95), gloves, apron, head cover, protective eyeglasses.
- Other precautions: such as abstention form eating, drinking and other activities prohibited in laboratories.
- Being cautious when dealing with specimens in the laboratory, during examination, lest the virus should leak.
- Providing a sufficient number of safety boxes, to soundly eliminate the wastes of specimens and syringes, as well as adhering to the instructions of safe elimination of hazardous waste.
- Wiping the surfaces of tables with a disinfectant after examining each specimen.
- Eliminating the personal protective equipment (PPE) when getting out of the laboratory.
How to keep and transfer specimens:
Specimens should be kept at a temperature of 4º C and sent to the laboratory during up to 2 days. In case the transportation takes longer time than two days, the specimen should be kept at a temperature of -70º C. The freezing and dissolution process should not be repeated.
Specimen Transportation:
The instructions given by the World Health Organization (WHO) should be followed where transporting diagnostic specimens.
- The relevant laboratory should be informed before moving the specimen.
- Transporting the specimen through DHL Express, and informing them of the contents.
- The specimen should be isolated and kept very well so as not to be affected by transportation.