Avian influenza, or 'bird flu', is a communicable disease caused by viruses that normally infect only birds but on rare occasions have infected humans.  Whilst there are a number of subtypes, only influenza A viruses of the H5 and H7 subtypes are known to cause the 'highly pathogenic' from (causing high mortality in poultry) of the disease, most notably the H5N1 subtype.  However, not all viruses of the H5 and H7 subtypes are highly pathogenic and not all will cause severe disease in poultry or transfer to humans.  The main route of human infection by avian influenza is presently considered to be by direct contact with surfaces and objects contaminated with faeces. Human to human spread of the disease is very rare, if it occurs at all.

Avian influenza virus can be considered as a new or emerging pathogen which is capable of causing life threatening or fatal disease in otherwise healthy humans or animals.  However, classification is also based on the form in which a specimen is to be offered for transport.  The following guidance is offered:

Category A - Cultures, faeces, carcasses or other products (e.g. blood) derived from animals known or suspected to have been infected with the A(H4N1) avian influenza virus.

Category B - Human blood and other human samples known or suspected to contain the A(H5N1) subtype, or cultures, faeces, carcasses, blood or other samples known or suspected to contain any other subtype or avian influenza virus.

Further information on avian influenza is available from the World Health Organisation website:


www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/avian_faqs/en/index.html#whatis

The carcass/sample collection shippers are designed to meet the processes from sample collection on site, to laboratory analysis, with safe containment of the sample during transportation.

All carcass shippers comply with UN regulations and there is a suitable solution available for the transportation of both liquid and solid, diagnostic (UN3373) specimens.

• Outer box printed in compliance with transport IATA (air) and ADR (road) regulation
• Pathoseal Liquitite 20/32 leak-proof bags
• Absorbent material

• UN certified for the shipment of diagnostic specimens
• Flat-packed for easy storage
• Easy to assemble
• Manufactured from strong, durable and high quality Correx plastic
• Complete with handles to encourage careful and easy handling

The Bioshield IIIR carcass shipper is to be used for the transportation of solid, diagnostic (UN3373), samples.

The Bioshield IIIR Box needs to be used in conjunction with the Bioshield IIIR Carcass Kit for this system to be compliant.  Each Bioshield IIIR Carcass Kit consists of 2 x leak-proof bags and absorbent.  Samples are to be placed inside both leak-proof bags with the absorbent provided and then placed inside the Bioshield IIIR outer Correx box for transportation.

Should multiple samples need to be shipped together in the same Bioshield IIIR outer, a Bioshield IIIR Carcass Kit will need to be purchased for each sample being shipped.

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DGP provides sample shippers for transporting blood or swabs from site to the laboratory or from laboratory to reference laboratory for analysis.

There are solutions available for sending the samples ambient or temperature controlled to comply with UN regulations for transporting infectious (UN2814/UN2900) and diagnostic (UN3373) specimens.

• 1L leak-proof polypropylene container with ‘o’ ring lid (95kPa IATA test compliant)
• Outer box printed in compliance with transport regulations IATA (air) and ADR (road)
• Absorbent material with 50ml capacity
• Bubble wrap pouch
• Infectious class label
• Security Seal label

• Supplied complete ready to ship
• UN certified for infectious/ diagnostic specimens
• Strong, durable and highly
• Protective
• Re-usable
• Cost-effective
• Easy to use
• Ideal for shipping a wide range of primary containers including blood tubes, vials swabs universal ports and petri dishes

The PATHOPAK 1Ltr, 2Ltr & 3Ltr are specimen shippers which can be used to send blood samples and swabs to the laboratory for both infectious (UN2814/2900) and diagnostic (UN3373) samples.

The PATHOPAK Group are ideal for shipping a wide variety of primary containers.  A primary container must be used in conjunction with the components provided with these specimen shippers.  The primary container with the specimen must be placed inside the container with the absorbent and bubble wrap bag provided.  The 1Ltr, 2Ltr & 3Ltr container must then be placed inside the rigid and durable outer box.

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• As indicated by the table below

• 95kPa IATA test compliant for air and road transportation
• Easy to use tamper evident seal
• A4 size sequentially numbered
• Leak-proof
• Third party tested

The PATHOPOUCH 95kPa A4 pouch is used to transport blood, tissue samples and swabs to the laboratory.

This product must be used in conjunction with a rigid outer box and primary container and is ideal for being used in combination with the BIOTHERM 5 to send temperature controlled samples for analysis.

The sample is to be placed in a primary container within the pouch with the absorbent provided. The pouch is then placed within the BIOTHERM 5 temperature controlled specimen shipper.

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• BIOTHERM outer box printed in compliance with transport regulations IATA (air) and ADR (road)
• Plastic handle
• EPS insulated shipper
• Infectious specimen label
• Dry ice label
• Overpack label
• Security seal label

• Re-usable, low cost and highly effective
• Ideal for shipping a wide range of dry ice or temperature controlled specimens
• Carry handle encourages careful transportation
• Temperature tested performance reports available on request
• Validated -2°C to -8°C Coolpac kits available
• Supplied complete ready to ship
• Can be used with DGP PATHOPAK products for diagnostic and infectious shipments

The BIOTHERM 5 & 10 are insulated shippers to transport samples at a controlled temperature.

These insulated shippers are ideal to be used in combination with the PATHOPAK 1Ltr (BIOTHERM 10) and the PATHOPOUCH A4 (BIOTHERM 5), to keep blood or tissue between +2ºC to +8ºC in temperature.

The BIOTHERM 5 & 10 require the Summer or Winter Temperature Control Validated COOLPAC Kits to be purchased separately.

Specimens are placed in the ambient specimen shippers (PATHOPAK 1Ltr or PATHOPOUCH A4) and then placed inside the applicable insulated shipper with the validated COOLPAC kits.

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• As indicated by the table below

• +2ºC to +8ºC temperature control validated COOLPAC kits
• Temperature control devices should be pre-conditioned as instructed
• Should be chilled or frozen 24hrs prior to use
• Cost-effective
• To be used with BIOTHERM range (not supplied)

• As indicated by the table below

• Calibration certificate available
• Records in transit temperature throughout journey
• Cost-effective
• Easy to use
• ETI digital device downloads to PC/MAC
• ETI device re-usable

A digital temperature logger can be used to record the temperature of the sample during transportation should a change in temperature be critical to the specimen integrity.

The ETI digital device records the temperature during transit and can be downloaded to a PC or a MAC.

The device should be placed near the sample during shipping for the most accurate reading possible.

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