Ambient and refrigerated specimens no longer need to be placed in hard shell coolers / transport boxes for delivery to the State Hygienic Lab. Central Delivery Service (CDS) couriers now have coolers in which ambient and refrigerated samples may be transported.

Please refer to the updated procedures for ambient and refrigerated specimens below.

Ambient Specimens:

1. Place each specimen in a biohazard bag with the patient paperwork inserted into the side-pocket of the biohazard bag. NOTE: Each patient case must have its own individual biohazard bag.
2. Place all ambient biohazard bags into a large Ziploc bag and mark the outside with an “A” (for ambient).
3. Staple the CDS barcode to the large Ziploc bag and place for courier pickup.

Refrigerated Specimens:

1. Place each specimen in a biohazard bag with the patient paperwork inserted into the side-pocket of the biohazard bag.
2. Place all refrigerated biohazard bags into a large Ziploc bag and mark the outside of the bag with an “R” (for refrigerated).
3. Staple the CDS barcode to the large Ziploc bag and place for courier pickup.

Packaging requirements for transporting frozen and newborn screening specimens remain unchanged. No frozen specimens will be accepted in Ziploc bags.

Hospitals, clinics and laboratories that prefer to use their own transport boxes / rigid coolers may continue to do so.

Questions

Please direct questions about specimens or testing to the State Hygienic Lab. Questions about the courier service should be directed to CDS.