The screening sample is drawn at the bedside where the patient currently is
sequestered, and transported to the SCDU laboratory.
Screening test results are available in one to one and a half hours after receipt.
And the basic labs may also be performed more of as a convenience during that time
period because the laboratory technologist is waiting on that result to.
To complete.
For specimen transport within the healthcare facility, we utilize a durable
leak proof container, usually, a plastic box with locking handles.
And we may use the same or similar, containers that are typically used for
shipping category A pathogens.
Those are available commercially.
We do not use the pneumatic tube system that we would normally transport patient
specimens through because of the risk of a tube rupturing, and
contaminating the pneumatic tube system.
Most importantly we have to minimize the risk of breakage of the tubes or
spilling of the samples.
Between facilities espe-, even for patients under investigation.
Any time a sample that might have a category A pathogen is going to travel
on a public conveyance or on roads within the United States requires adherence to
the hazardous materials regulations of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
There are shipping containers that are designed to minimize the risk of spills.
Even in the event of an automobile or
airplane accident, these, commercial products can be shipped through a number
of shippers within the United States, carriers such as Federal Express,
because they do have the appropriate certifications to transport them.
Once the specimen is received and testing for Ebola is completed.
It is then necessary to change the status of the patient
depending on the particular result that was generated.
So, for positive patients,
those individuals would be admitted to our serious communicable diseases unit, and
further care would be provided in that very controlled environment.