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142
GUIDELINES FOR DESPATCH OF SPECIMENS FOR LABORATORY INVESTIGATIONS
N Naganathan: NTI Newsletter 1973, 10, 35-38.

This paper brings out certain guidelines to be followed at the time of despatch of specimens for laboratory investigations. Despatch of pathological specimens to laboratories situated away from the place of collection for investigations is quite a common practice. Often those despatching the specimens are not aware of the procedures. Specimens are packed like any other articles sent by post.

There are two important points to be remembered when pathological specimens are sent for investigations. One of them is preservation of the material so that the specimens reach the laboratory in a condition fit for necessary investigations. The other is the proper packing of the specimens to prevent leakage from or breakage of the containers during transit so that they do not become hazardous to persons handling them. For microscopy, it is better to send fixed smears wrapped in a paper and properly labelled. For culture, specimens should always be sent in a sterile container. It is preferable to send them in ice to prevent overgrowth of contaminants and drying. If the transport time is 3-4 days, they can be sent at room temperature. It is advisable to send bulky liquid specimens and more than one specimen through a messenger instead of by post or as an unaccompanied parcel. In case this is not possible, it will be advisable to send them in more than one parcel depending on the number to be sent instead of sending all specimens as a single parcel.

KEY WORDS: GUIDELINES, SPECIMEN, LABORATORY, DESPATCH, INVESTIGATIONS.

144
SOME GUIDELINES FOR ESTABLISHING A TUBERCULOSIS CULTURE LABORATORY
N Naganathan: NTI Newsletter 1974, 11, 32-34.

The issues to be addressed while establishing a tuberculosis culture laboratory are discussed in the paper. Primarily the following questions are to be considered: (1) Is it absolutely essential to have a tuberculosis culture laboratory? (2) Will it be big or small? (3) Are there adequate means to continue work in terms of finance, staff, equipment & specimens and (4) Is there a possibility of taking up any other type of bacteriological work, if necessary? Unlike other bacteriology laboratory, a tuberculosis laboratory has some unique features. Due to the slow growth of the organism, cultures need to be incubated for a long time i.e., 8 10 weeks. So an incubator room is required. More number of glassware are needed. Test tubes with cotton plugs are unsuitable as they are likely to dry up. Hence screw capped tubes or McCartney bottles are required to facilitate long incubation of cultures. For performing identification tests, incubators with varying temperatures, i.e., 23, 37, 44, are to be provided. Plenty of cold storage space is needed to stock cultures, media, etc.

The requirement of staff and organisation of work depends upon the number of specimens handled. If 50 specimens per day are likely to be processed, 5 lab technicians, 3 lab attendants, 1 sweeper and 1 bacteriologist are necessary. Once laboratory is opened, maximum benefit should be derived by getting adequate number of specimens.

KEY WORDS: GUIDELINES, TUBERCLE BACILLI, CULTURE LABORATORY.
 
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