h. If anaerobic cultures are requested, the specimen should be collected and
transported in the manner prescribed by the laboratory.
3-7.
IMPORTATION AND INTERSTATE SHIPMENT OF HUMAN PATHOGENS
AND RELATED MATERIALS
It is frequently necessary to ship specimens to reference laboratories for analysis
or confirmation. Acceptable shipping containers and procedures for packing specimens
are described below:
a. Noninfectious Specimen.
(1) Enclose the specimen in a sterile glass container and cap. A screw-
capped test tube or jar is satisfactory.
(2)
Place the glass container in standard double shipping containers.
(3)
Pad the spaces between the containers to guard against breakage.
(4) The properly packed container of noninfectious material will have the
following layers, from specimen outward: specimen, glass, padding, metal, padding, and
heavy cardboard (figure 3-5(A) ).
Figure 3-5. Microbiological specimens picked for shipment.
MD0151
3-13