Section: Microbiology Lab Specimen Management Manual / Subject Title: Transport of Specimens – Procedure
TRANSPORT OF SPECIMENS
POLICY
All specimens transferred between laboratory sites of the UHN/MSH Microbiology Department and the client hospitals are transported by LifeLabs (previously MDS) Courier Services or other designated courier systems. All specimens are transported in accordance to the policy for Transportation of Dangerous Goods and Material.
PROCEDURE
1. Specimens in biohazard bags are placed in rigid, leak proof containers. Place vacutainer tubes or universal containers for other body fluids and/or pathological specimens into a foam insert. The foam insert restricts the specimens from contact with each other and will absorb any liquid should breakage occur during transit.
2. Place the foam inserts into leak proof plastic containers with a rubber seal.
3. Place the plastic containers into a
(a) LifeLabs Transport bag with a zipper closure
· Yellow bags are designated for the transportation of Bacteriology, Virology, Serology and Parasitology specimens to the Mount Sinai Hospital site.
(b) Baycrest Red Cooler
(c) TRI Blue Cooler or Blue Transport Bag with a zipper closure
(d) CAMH Green Transport Bag with zipper closure
4. Insert an “Infectious Substance” label into the clear plastic holder on top of the box.
5. Place a colored card into the box indicating the time the box was prepared for transport and the employee who packed the box.
6. At the receiving end remove the first card and keep in a storage file. Place a second colored card with staff initial and a time stamp in the box to verify that the box has been emptied. Check that all specimens have been removed from the carrier box.
SPECIMEN DELIVERY SCHEDULE
Day
/ Time / CourierBag / Courier
Bacteriology, Mycology, Virology, Serology and Parasitology from UHN, Grace and Bridgepoint / MSH 14th floor / Monday to Saturday / 8:00 am -9:00 pm / Yellow bag / LifeLabs
Sunday / 8:00 am - 5:00 pm / Yellow bag / LifeLabs
MSH 6th floor / Monday to Saturday / 9:00 pm – 8:00 am / Yellow bag / LifeLabs
Sunday / 5:00 pm – 8:00 am / Yellow bag / LifeLabs
All specimens from MSH / MSH 14th floor / 7 days a week / All hours
If laboratory closed, leave in fridge/basket/ incubator outside lab doors / Not applicable / Service Assistants and
Translogic
System
All specimens from Baycrest / MSH 6th floor / Monday to Friday
Saturday/Sunday / 2:30 pm – 3:00 pm
STAT ONLY / Red Cooler
N/A / Courier
Taxi
All specimens from TRI / MSH 6th floor / Monday to Friday / 10:30am -11:00am / Blue Cooler
Or Blue bag / Courier
All specimens from CAMH / MSH 14th floor / Monday to Friday / 1:00 pm –1:30 pm / Green bag / Courier
All specimens from OPG and 60 Murray St. / MSH 14th floor / Monday to Friday / 8:00 am -8:00 pm / Translogic carrier / Translogic
System
Contact person 6th floor MSH – Phone 3431
· On Saturday, Sunday & Statutory holidays, no courier pickup from TWH after 8:30 pm, from TGH after 8:45 pm, from CHC after 10 pm and from Ajax after 6:45 pm. Specimens should be kept overnight at the specimen management center at each hospital site at the appropriate temperature.
· IF BAYCREST SPECIMENS ARE DELAYED
The evening accessioning technician will pick up from the 6th floor the
Baycrest specimens when notified of its arrival.
Record of Edited Revisions
Manual Section Name: Transport of Specimens
Page Number / Item / Date of Revision / Signature of ApprovalAnnual Review / May 12, 2001 / Dr. T. Mazzulli
Annual Review / May 12, 2002 / Dr. T. Mazzulli
Annual Review / May 12, 2003 / Dr. T. Mazzulli
Annual Review / May 12, 2004 / Dr. T. Mazzulli
Annual Review / May 12, 2005 / Dr. T. Mazzulli
Annual Review / May 12, 2006 / Dr. T. Mazzulli
Annual Review / August 13, 2007 / Dr. T. Mazzulli
Annual Review / May 31, 2008 / Dr. T. Mazzulli
Annual Review / May 31, 2009 / Dr. T. Mazzulli
Annual Review / May 31,2010 / Dr. T. Mazzulli
Annual Review / May 31, 2011 / Dr. T. Mazzulli
Annual Review / May 31, 2012 / Dr. T. Mazzulli
Annual Review / May 31, 2013 / Dr. T. Mazzulli
Annual Review / May 9, 2014 / Dr. T. Mazzulli
UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK/MOUNT SINAI HOSPITAL, DEPARTMENT OF MICROBIOLOGY
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S:\MICROBIO\Microbiology\New Manual\Live Manual\Quality Manual\Process Control\Microbiology Laboratory Specimen Management Manual\Transport of Specimens QPCMI04001.doc