Sample transportation is one of the essential elements in the preanalytical process, from pathology to vaccine development. While transferring samples from point A to point B may be straightforward, several factors make the process difficult, complex, and highly specialized. Finally, sample transportation can have an immediate effect on outcomes. This is why, to speed sample transportation operations and protect specimens, every laboratory should have apparent protocols in place.
This blog by Molecular Biology Products will help you provide everything you need to know about sample transportation in Laboratories. We are the provider of various biological lab products. We have a variety of cell culture plates, flasks, pipettes, pipette tips, including 50ul conductive filter tips Hamilton, etc.
So, let’s get back to the blog and learn about sample transportation.
Importance to Sample Transportation Strategy
A successful sample transportation plan entails more than just transporting specimens from one location to another. The best sample transportation in laboratories achieves the following objectives:
Elimination of Sample Contamination
Transporting laboratory samples exposes them to a range of hazards, including contamination. This might happen while samples are moved between locations or in the laboratory. For example, this can occur if a storage vessel cracks and pollutants like oxygen or bacteria particles get in touch with the sample. As a result, samples are frequently carried in Styrofoam boxes or insulated vacuum flasks. Close contact with other samples and exposure to airborne laboratory pollutants can all offer a risk.
Avoid Delays In Laboratory Results
One of the primary goals of a good sample transportation strategy is to minimize and ideally eliminate laboratory results delays. Sample transportation should see specimens travel as rapidly as feasible between destinations, without unforeseen delays. A faulty sample transportation method could result in specimens being lost or destroyed in the worst-case scenarios.
Preserving The Integrity Of Samples
The integrity of samples is endangered when they are taken from their source and stored in a vessel. A solid sample transportation strategy should take precautions to ensure the integrity of samples at all stages of transport. This includes transportation from the collecting site to the laboratory and transportation within the laboratory.
During extended travel durations, most laboratories need serum samples to be maintained at temperatures of 20°C or less. They should be kept cool in portable fridges or ice packs while in transit. Other delicate specimens, such as blood samples, may be harmed by sunlight exposure, agitation, and other physical conditions.
Rules For Sample Transportation
Every laboratory has its own set of sample transportation rules. Some are created by laboratory management in-house, while others are based on local, national, and worldwide sample transportation guidelines. Following is a closer look at some of the regulating agencies and organizations that produce sample transportation guidelines in laboratories.
International Organization Of Standards (ISO)
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) published regulations for various fields and specialized areas, including scientific sample transportation. For Instance, the ISO 15189:2012 standard “specifies requirements for quality and competence in medical laboratories” and is frequently used to create quality management systems and assess competence.
ISO/CD 20658 is even more specialized, as it is only intended for sample transportation in laboratory settings and in vitro diagnostic test systems. It is still in the works, but it will establish “requirements for sample collecting and transport” by medical labs when it is finished. It will expand on the 20658:2017 standard, which outlines gold-standard practices for transporting, collecting, receiving, and handling clinical samples.
Importance Of Labeling
Throughout the sample transportation pathway, labeling plays a crucial role. A sample must be labeled as soon as it is collected, whether a geological sample extracted from a mine site or a serological sample for analyte analysis. This ensures that the sample can be tracked and traced from when it is collected until it is returned to the collecting site.
When samples arrive at the lab, they are assigned a unique laboratory identification number. In general, this should include information about the patient or the location where the sample was obtained. This unique laboratory identification number enables lab staff to follow and trace the sample as it passes through the analysis stages.
Final Words
Finally, one must be careful before getting hands with the laboratory samples. Laboratory transportation is not only a transfer of samples, but it can alter results drastically.
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Citation:
(Bioevopeak)
