The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has been designated as the centre for handling all specimen collected for the identification of SARS virus
Medical personnel must contact the NICD (contact numbers Dr L Blumberg 082 807 6770, Prof BD Schoub 082 908 8049 and Dr A Puren 082 908 8048) BEFORE sending specimens.
Specimens Required:
Nasopharyngeal aspirates or bronchoalveolar lavage in viral transport medium. Procedure: pass a small catheter or feeding tube through the patient’s nose into the nasopharynx, instil 2-3ml of saline, and aspirate and place the contents directly into viral transport medium. Nasopharyngeal swabs do not provide adequate material, and therefore the results may not be reliable and throat swabs are totally unsuitable.
Infection control precautions must be followed during this procedure: gloves, gown, visor, and N-95 mask.
5ml of clotted blood in a plain tube
Transport of Specimens
The specimens should be placed in a secondary container and surrounded by absorbent material in a polystyrene cold box. The details of the patient, the laboratory and the name and phone number of the doctor should be placed outside the box, and be easily accessible.
NB SPECIMENS CANNOT BE PROCESSED UNLESS THERE IS PRIOR CONSULTATION WITH THE NICD.
Receiving Office
Check with Dr Blumberg or Prof Schoub or Dr Puren if the case meets clinical criteria for SARS
Specimens:
Nasopharyngeal Aspirate – viral transport media
Clotted blood
Despatch specimens to BSL – 4 laboratory
BSL – 4 Laboratory
If coronavirus investigations are negative and referring doctor needs further investigations a convalescent-phase serum (10-14 days later) should be requested and the paired sera sent to Dr Marshall at Johannesburg Hospital for respiratory serology, after activation. Investigation should then be processed as for a routine diagnostic specimen.