Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
Interim Guidelines, March 25, 2003
Biosafety Advisory
Subsequent to the recent cases of Severe Acute Respiratory
Syndrome (SARS) in Canada1, we are
providing you with the following interim biosafety advisory
regarding the laboratory handling of clinical specimens associated
with this syndrome.
Note : Precautions for the collection of
clinical specimens and other infection control measures are
currently being developed by Health Canada as a separate
document.
Precautions for laboratories receiving and processing
clinical specimens and tissue samples from suspected SARS
cases1:
- specimens may be processed for packaging and distribution to
diagnostic laboratories for further testing in a Containment Level
2 laboratory2 using the additional
operational practices as outlined below
- routine diagnostic testing (including routine viral culture) to
rule out SARS may be performed in a Containment Level 2
laboratory2 using the additional
operational practices as outlined below (such conventional
procedures have not yet been shown to grow the agent)
(Note: laboratories performing routine diagnostics for atypical
pneumonia should consider that they may inadvertently be working
with specimens from a suspected SARS case)
Additional Operational Practices:
- laboratory workers should wear protective clothing (e.g.
protective solid-front gowns, gloves and N-95 respiratory
protection) in accordance with the risk of exposure when handling
specimens
- manipulations that may produce aerosols should be carried out
in a certified biological safety cabinet
- centrifugation of respiratory and tissue specimens should be
carried out using sealed centrifuge cups or rotors that are
unloaded in a biological safety cabinet
Precautions for laboratories handling clinical specimens
from known probable SARS cases1 (ie. samples from patients meeting case
definition) for characterization of the agent:
- specimens may be processed for packaging and distribution to
laboratories for further testing in a Containment Level 2
laboratory2 using the additional
operational practices as outlined above
- culture-based attempts to characterize the agent and
manipulations involving growth of the agent recovered in cultures
of SARS specimens and tissues should be in a Containment Level 3
laboratory2 using Containment Level 3
operational practices2
- inoculation of animals for potential recovery of the agent
should be performed in a Containment Level 3 facility2 using Containment Level 3 operational
practices2
- PCR testing of extracted genetic material may be performed in a
Containment Level 2 laboratory2
Transportation of clinical specimens:
- Packaging, shipping and transport of specimens must comply with
the requirements of the Transportation of Dangerous Goods
Regulations, Transport Canada3 and
the Dangerous Goods Regulations, International Air Transport
Association4.
- For air shipment, clinical specimens from known probable SARS
cases (ie. samples from patients meeting case definition) must be
shipped as Infectious Substance, affecting humans (Severe Acute
Respiratory Syndrome)(Risk Group 3).
Further biosafety information may be obtained from the Office of
Laboratory Security, Public Health Agency of Canada at (613)
957-1779, fax (613) 941-0596 or web site at: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/ols-bsl/index.html
References:
- Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Health Canada
/www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/protection/warnings/2003/2003_11.htm![New window](../gfx_common/newwindow.gif)
- Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines, 3rd Edition, Public
Health Agency of Canada
www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/ols-bsl/lbg-ldmbl/index.html
- Transport Dangerous Goods, Transport Canada
www.tc.gc.ca/tdg/menu.htm![New window](../gfx_common/newwindow.gif)
- Dangerous Goods Regulations, International Air Transport
Association
www.iataonline.com![New window](../gfx_common/newwindow.gif)