Transport of viral specimens

Abstract

The diagnosis of viral infections by culture relies on the collection of proper specimens, proper care to protect the virus in the specimens from environmental damage, and use of an adequate transport system to maintain virus activity. Collection of specimens with swabs that are toxic to either virus or cell culture should be avoided. A variety of transport media have been formulated, beginning with early bacteriological transport media. Certain swab-tube combinations have proven to be both effective and convenient. Of the liquid transport media, sucrose-based and broth-based media appear to be the most widely accepted and used. Studies on virus stability show that most viruses tested are sufficiently stable in transport media to withstand a transport time of 1 to 3 days. Some viruses may withstand longer transport times. In many cases, it is not necessary to store virus specimens in a refrigerator or send them to the laboratory on wet ice or frozen on dry ice. However, the specimen should not be exposed to environmental extremes. Modern viral transport media allow for more effective use of viral culture and culture enhancement techniques for the diagnosis of human viral infections.

Advanced uracil DNA glycosylase-supplemented real-time reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (UDG-rRT-LAMP) method for universal and specific detection of Tembusu virus

“…The collected tissue samples were minced using scissors in viral transport medium50 to produce a 20% suspension (w/v). The tissue suspension was further processed in a stomacher blender (Model 80, Seward Ltd., Davie, FL, USA) and centrifuged at 1200 rpm for 10 min at 4 °C.…”

Where Do Avian Influenza Viruses Meet in the Americas?

“…salina) y transportados en hieleras para mantener las muestras a una temperatura de 4°C. 10 La formación de homogenizados fue de cuatro aves separados por especie y sexo fueron mezcladas y homogenizadas en tubos de 10ml de centrifuga, posteriormente se centrifugo a 1000x g durante 10 minutos a 4°C y Dentro de una campana de flujo laminar (Class II nuare), se paso el sobrenadante por filtros con tamaño de membrana de 0.45µm (Durapore Membrana Filtres, Millipore) y un prefiltro de 25mm (Millipore AP2002500) para la eliminación de partículas contaminantes. A las 48 hrs se revisó nuevamente la mortalidad de los embriones y se recolectaron 3ml de líquido alantoideo del 50% de los embriones inoculados por cada homogenizado al azar para realizar prueba de hemoaglutinación en placa.…”

Prolonged intermittent virus shedding during an outbreak of canine influenza A H3N2 virus infection in dogs in three Chicago area shelters: 16 cases (March to May 2015)

“…In terms of the virus isolation results, it is noteworthy that although successful virus isolation was achieved from nasal swab specimens with decreased virus load (ie, high C T values), testing of some specimens with a moderate virus load (eg, C T value of 31) did not result in successful virus isolation, perhaps because nasal swab specimens had been submitted on swabs made of wood and cotton, which may have residual chlorine known to degrade virus nucleic acid. 11,12 Prolonged virus shedding is a critical driver of transmission and has been associated with increased severity and weakened host defenses in humans infected with influenza A virus. 13 Lee et al 13 defined prolonged virus shedding as positive detection of influenza A H1N1 virus by rRT-PCR assay 7 days after diagnosis.…”