3.1.1 Transportation The terms Category A (for positive cultures) and Category B (for specimens) are limited to classifying samples / microbial cultures being transported to another laboratory (see Table below). Packaging Requirement Sample Description Category A samples are or suspected to contain a microbial Assign to UN2814 (Humans) agent with the following definition infectious substance “an Packaging Instructions P620 which is transported in a form that if exposure to it occurs, is Supporting documentation as per ADR capable of causing permanent disability, life-threatening or fatal disease to humans or animals”. The majority are Hazard Group Transport as category A 3 or 4 ADR licensed courier For practical reasons to referral / reference services to Assign UN3373 continue a limited number of Category A agents have exempted Packaging instruction P650 from being transported as Category A. These are Vero-cytotoxin producing (VTEC), Escherichia coli Mycobacterium tuberculosis Send by courier and Shigella dysenteriae 1 Royal Mail will NOT accept Category B samples are that do not meet the definitions of Assign UN3373 Category A Packaging instruction P650 Post or courier Royal Mail WILL accept 4 Specimen Processing/Procedure77,78 4.1 Test Selection If there is sufficient volume, specimens being processed for AFBs should normally have AFB microscopy (a prior to, and in addition to, culture; with the ‘smear’) exception of samples received already pre-inoculated into a mycobacterial culture bottle. Direct microscopy of urine is also of questionable value; and moreover, depending on the clinical setting, can be misleading due to the presence of mycobacteria10,26. If sample volume is insufficient for both, culture is usually preferred to microscopy due to greater sensitivity. It may be appropriate to process a sample for AFBs, depending on specimen type and available clinical details, even if these tests were not specifically requested when submitted1. Such specimen types in particular would include pleural biopsies or material from lymph nodes1. 4.2 Appearance Sterile site body fluids Note the presence of any clot and, if present, include it in the processing. Tissue biopsies Process the entire tissue if the sample is small.
3.1.1 Transportation The terms Category A (for positive cultures) and Category B (for specimens) are limited to classifying samples / microbial cultures being transported to another laboratory (see Table below). Sample Description Packaging Requirement Category A samples are or suspected to contain a microbial agent with the following definition “an infectious substance which is transported in a form that if exposure to it occurs, is capable of causing permanent disability, life-threatening or fatal disease to humans or animals”. The majority are Hazard Group 3 or 4 Assign to UN2814 (Humans) Packaging Instructions P620 Supporting documentation as per ADR Transport as category A ADR licensed courier For practical reasons to referral / reference services to continue a limited number of Category A agents have exempted from being transported as Category A. These are Vero-cytotoxin producing Escherichia coli (VTEC), Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Shigella dysenteriae 1 Assign UN3373 Packaging instruction P650 Send by courier Royal Mail will NOT accept Category B samples are that do not meet the definitions of Category A Assign UN3373 Packaging instruction P650 Post or courier Royal Mail WILL accept 4 Specimen Processing/Procedure77,78 4.1 Test Selection If there is sufficient volume, specimens being processed for AFBs should normally have AFB microscopy (a ‘smear’) prior to, and in addition to, culture; with the exception of samples received already pre-inoculated into a mycobacterial culture bottle. Direct microscopy of urine is also of questionable value; and moreover, depending on the clinical setting, can be misleading due to the presence of mycobacteria10,26. If sample volume is insufficient for both, culture is usually preferred to microscopy due to greater sensitivity. It may be appropriate to process a sample for AFBs, depending on specimen type and available clinical details, even if these tests were not specifically requested when submitted1. Such specimen types in particular would include pleural biopsies or material from lymph nodes1. 4.2 Appearance Sterile site body fluids Note the presence of any clot and, if present, include it in the processing. Tissue biopsies Process the entire tissue if the sample is small.
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