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The recent spike in measles cases in England has prompted the declaration of a national incident by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) with confirmed cases rising to the highest level since the mid-1990s in the West Midlands. There have been 133 cases since 1 October in the region, with a further 96 “likely” cases, according to the UK Health Services Authority (UKHSA). The health agency has started a campaign to encourage uptake of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine in England as over 3.4 million children in the nation have not been vaccinated against the virus. Further outbreaks could occur in the West Midlands and other parts of England if vaccination rates do not increase.
In view of what is now a national incident, this short article will outline how you can safely transport measles test samples between healthcare facilities and testing centres using Intelsius packaging and labels.
What is the relevant compliance to adhere to?
Measles is a highly infectious virus that can cause great risk to infants, young children, pregnant women or immunocompromised individuals. This is why it is extremely important to adhere to international regulations on the transport of these samples across the country.
The classification of infectious substances are as follows:
Category B substances, known as UN3373 covers substances which are not appropriate for inclusion in Category A.
Category A is described as an infectious substance that, if exposed to it, is life threatening or capable of causing permanent disability in otherwise healthy humans or animals. It is further sub-divided into two sub-categories: UN2814 (affecting humans) and UN2900 (affecting animals only).
We’ve outlined the difference between Category A and B compliance here, along with the relevant transport regulations and packaging requirements.
Oral samples are usually taken for a suspected measles cases and while there is no official guidance published in the UK on the transport of measles samples, Intelsius has a range of packaging solutions which are both Category A and Category B compliant, as well as compliant with other international transport regulations.
What sample transport packaging solutions should I use?
PathoPak
A cost-effective and durable option which is both Category A and B compliant is the PathoPak range. It is a highly protective packaging option and is appropriate for transporting a range of primaries including blood tubes, specimen containers, swabs, blood collection/transfusion bags and medical devices, making it appropriate for the transport of measles samples.
The PathoPak solutions are available in 800ml, 1L, 2L or 3L sizes and meets IATA, ADR, and CFR 49 (DOT) transport regulations. Click here to learn more about the range and if it would be suitable for your needs.
Pathoshield
Our PathoShield sample packaging range offers Category A and B compliant solutions which comprise a flexible 95kPa tested secondary container, absorbent, labels, and UN markings. The sample transport packaging range is suitable to ship a wide range of primaries, including blood vials, swabs and sample containers and each system is pre-printed with the required markings. They are also equipped to ship samples in compliance with international transport regulations.
The PathoShield range is available in multiple sizes, accommodating between 3 and 6 tubes per box. They are also available as outer packaging only. Click here to find out more.
Intelsius Bespoke Kitting Services
Intelsius has secured a contract with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to provide specially created, bespoke testing kits for the National Health Service (NHS). We design a range of kits and solutions for the NHS, all of which are tailored to specific needs and requirements with the ability to test for a variety of diseases.
Get In Touch
Our full range of Category A and B compliant sample transport solutions are available here. If you have queries about transporting infectious substances or if you would like to find out more about our bespoke kitting services, contact cs@intelsius.com and our helpful representatives will be happy to assist you.
