Shipment of Isolates

1.    Scope

·       This SOP explains the procedure for packing and transportations of vaccine and wild virus isolates to global specialized laboratory for sequencing and banking.

2.    Materials

·       Vial containing isolate to be sent

·       Plastic Bag.

·       Rubber band.

·       Vaccine Carrier with ice packs (ICE packs kept overnight in -80⁰C deep freezer is used).

3.    Procedure

·       How to make parcel

o   Vaccine Virus isolates is sent to ERC, Mumbai within 1 month from the ITD result. Wild virus isolates and discordant result isolates are sent within 24 hours of identification.

o   The vial containing isolate to be sent is labeled with laboratory   number and passage information ( e.g. L+R+ or R+L+R+ )

o   Serotype and intratype is also written on the vial.Keep each vial containing isolate in individual plastic bag and apply rubber band over it.

o   Keep the vials in the thermocol rack in upright position and keep it in -20⁰C temperature.

o   Then place it in the sample carrier (with ice packs)

o   This parcel is sent to ERC lab. Bombay through Lab. Attendant along with form and Forwarding letter for Director of ERC and Copy of LRF of isolates.

4.    Safety conditions

·       Check proper labeling on vial with form-2.

·       Do not make a mistake in labeling of vial.

5.    Documentation

• Isolates sent to ERC For ITD Register PR-20
• Form 2 banking and sequencing file OF-07
• Forwarding letter for Director of ERC.
• Copy of LRF

6.    References used to draw SOP

·       Polio Laboratory Manual.