General specimen requirement information

Samples must be labelled with:

• patient's full name (surname / family name and given/individual name)
• date of birth and unique NHS/hospital number
• date of collection.

Sample handling and storage

• All samples should be sent directly to the laboratory to arrive as soon as possible after collection, i.e. hospital transport, first class post, courier service etc.
• Samples can be stored overnight at +4^oC if there is an unavoidable delay between sample collection and dispatch.
• Please DO NOT FREEZE blood samples.

Sample packaging

Samples must be packaged to comply with PI650, for Category B biological substances as described by the European Agreement Concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR; applicable as from 01/01/2017)

This applies to all samples sent by post or courier.

Summary of Packing Instruction 650 (PI650)

Packaging comprises 3 components.

• Pathological specimens must be in a securely sealed watertight primary container i.e. a sample tube.
• Specimen tubes should then be sealed in a leak-proof secondary container (i.e. plastic container or specimen bag), along with sufficient absorbent material to absorb the entire contents of the container in the event of leakage or damage
• The secondary container and the referral paperwork are then securely cushioned within a rigid outer packaging, such as a strong cardboard box/Jiffy bag for postal samples or a transport box for South Central Ambulance Transport services. This outer package should have at least one surface of minimum dimension 100 mm x 100 mm. 
• The outer package should be clearly labelled "UN3373, Biological substance Category B". (Extracted DNA does not need to be labelled UN3373)

High risk samples (hazardous biological agents)

For samples known/likely to be infected with hazardous biological agents (hazard group 3 or above, e.g. HIV, Hepatitis B/C, prions, mycobacterium tuberculosis):

• The nature of the risk must be clearly marked on the referral card.
• The sample tube should be clearly labelled (e.g. 'Danger of Infection' tape) to indicate the high risk nature.
• If information regarding hazardous biological agents becomes available after a sample is referred to the laboratory, then the laboratory must be informed immediately

Inappropriate samples

The following samples will NOT be accepted by the Genetics Laboratory:

• Clotted blood samples
• Lithium heparin samples for Molecular Genetics analysis - this is due to risk of failure or false positive results for some analyses. Lithium heparin samples ARE REQUESTED for karyotype analysis
• Inadequately labelled samples
• Inadequately packaged samples, including damaged or leaking samples.

Last updated: 18 October 2017 by Claire Scott.