Tips of the Month

October 2009  

Tips for transporting samples by car

 

Since some of you need to transport blood and/or urine specimens from your off-site clinic to the central lab at UVA, the following is information provided by Ericka Pearce during her Shipping of Hazardous Materials certification class for our continuing education series:

 

  • Pack specimens, in a leak-proof primary container, with enough absorbent material to soak up any spillage
  • Put primary containers in a leak-proof package (possibly a leak-proof sealable shipping bag); but a leak-proof zip lock baggie will work
  • Securely place everything in a separate closed box - preferably in the trunk of the car
  • If using dry ice - be sure that the container is allowed to vent
  • Have the attached "courtesy letter" with you whenever you transport specimens.

 

**Please note that it would also be a good idea to always have a box of gloves and/or spill materials (a biohazard/red bag and Cavicide) with you. 

 

Call Ericka Pearce at 982-4911 if you have any questions

 

Per Ericka, REMEMBER:  this should be for patient specimens only.   Category B cultures should be shipped by air or packaged as a Category B and transported using a trained and certified courier.   

For additional information see the following Hospital Policies:

# 0076:  Medical Devices Evaluation and Monitoring System # 0165:  Safe Medical Devices Act Reporting

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