Appendix 1: Sample Submission Safety Considerations
Updated 7 June 2024
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Health and safety
The specimen containers and mail transport systems provided by the laboratory should be used. The individual requesting or taking specimens from patients known to be infectious must ensure that the form, sample and specimen bag are appropriately labelled.
It is essential, where the requester knows or strongly suspects that the patient is infected with a dangerous pathogen that this specific information is provided with every specimen or request form.
Packaging of specimens
Specimens should be placed in the appropriate specimen container, which must be securely fastened, and any accidental spillage cleaned immediately, with an appropriate disinfectant. The specimen container must be wrapped in absorbent material to contain leakages should they occur in transit.
Each specimen should be placed in a clear plastic double (“marsupial”) self-sealing bag with one compartment containing the request form and the other the specimen. One specimen per specimen bag.
Where a needle has been used to obtain the specimen, the needle should be disposed of safely into an approved sharps container at the point of use, and not included in the packet transported to the laboratory.
Packaging of “high risk” specimens
Specimens from patients in the “infection risk from blood” category should be placed in the appropriate specimen container, which must be securely fastened, and any accidental spillage cleaned immediately with an appropriate disinfectant. The specimen container must be wrapped in absorbent material to contain leakages should they occur in transit.
This should be placed and sealed in a clear plastic double (“marsupial”) self-sealing bag. One specimen per specimen bag. This must then be placed and sealed in a second clear plastic double (“marsupial”) self-sealing bag with one compartment containing the request form and the other the specimen.
Transport of specimens
It is a legal requirement that all diagnostic samples carried on the public road must be packaged and transported in compliance with The Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2011. Under these regulations, it is the sender’s responsibility to ensure that they are complied with. See Guidance on regulations for the transport of infectious substances 2021 to 2022
High risk incidents and safety
Universal precautions should be observed and appropriate personal protective equipment worn when specimens are collected (sterile gloves to take blood, masks, protective eyewear and a plastic apron if splashing of blood or other body fluids is likely to occur.) Any inoculation incidents (needlesticks or contamination of conjunctiva, mucous membranes or broken skin, with blood or body fluids), must be reported as soon as possible – within 2 hours - to your occupational health service so that any required action can be instituted promptly.
This procedure must be followed whether or not the patient is perceived to be high risk.