A simple and inexpensive container for the transport of biological specimens in limited resource situations

Summary

We describe a diagnostic specimen transport container that is appropriate for limited resource or emergency settings. The transport container is constructed from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plumbing pipe, which is readily available and inexpensive (US$1–2, depending on size) and has wide flexibility of size due to the range of PVC pipe dimensions available. The PVC transporters are durable, water-resistant and may be easily decontaminated. They have been adapted for the transport of blood culture bottles from provincial hospitals in Laos, where, during a 2-year period, 380 PVC tubes containing blood culture bottles were transported without any leakage or breakage. We have found the PVC transporter to be a useful and cost-efficient durable alternative that meets IATA Packing Instruction 650 biological transport container requirements.

1. Introduction

The transport of biological specimens for sample analysis requires a strong, leakproof container. In developed countries, diagnostic specimens are transported in containers conforming to International Air Transport Association (IATA) Packing Instruction 650 (International Air Transport Association, 2005), which comprise: (1) a primary receptacle in which the specimen is contained; (2) a secondary container, which is usually a plastic leakproof container; and (3) a rigid outer packaging, which is usually a fibreboard container. The lack of financial, human and material resources in settings such as developing countries, remote locations, or emergency situations are a major impediment to effective health care services (Petti et al., 2006). In limited resource settings, easy access to IATA-approved shipping containers is difficult because of their high cost (US$30-50, depending on size) and lack of availability. Here we describe an alternative diagnostic specimen transport container appropriate for such situations.

2. Materials and methods

The transport container is constructed entirely from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plumbing pipe, which is readily available and inexpensive. It comprises four components (Figure 1) –base, sleeve pipe, upper shroud and cap – and is held in place using conventional PVC plumbing pipe solvent glue (which is usually composed of tetrahydrofuran, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, cyclohexanone and polyvinyl chloride resin). The PVC transporter may be used as either a secondary container or the rigid outer packaging. The use of a rubber or silicone ring makes the pipe container leakproof. An inner secondary container, wrapped in cotton wool or bubble wrap, further protects the primary receptacle containing the specimen from leak or impact. The PVC transporter has wide flexibility of size due to the range of PVC pipe dimensions available. The components cost between US$1–2, depending on size.

Figure 1. Exploded view of the components of the PVC transporter.

3. Results and discussion

The PVC transporters are durable and have been used for 7 years without replacement. They are water-resistant and, should a spillage occur, would be easily chemically and biologically decontaminated. The PVC transporter was developed in 1997 in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Laos) for the transport of classical swine fever virus specimens by bus, air and regular postal service from remote provinces to a central laboratory for diagnosis. In this situation, the PVC transporter was used as rigid outer packaging containing a secondary leakproof container (50 ml polypropylene centrifuge tube), which housed the primary receptacle (glass tube) containing the specimen. In 2003, the PVC trans porter was adapted for the air transport of blood culture bottles from provincial hospitals to Mahosot Hospital in the capital, Vientiane, for the culture of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi. In this case the PVC container was used as a secondary container, which housed a haemoculture bottle (primary receptacle) wedged within the tube with cotton wool, and the PVC tubes were held within locally made lockable double-skinned boxes (rigid outer packaging) normally used for the storage of ice, which cost the equivalent of US$10. The glass blood culture bottles available locally are slightly narrower than the internal diameter of the PVC pipe and are therefore held firmly (Figure 2). Warning labels were attached to the boxes and absorbent paper added within the box to cushion the tubes and to absorb any spills. The PVC transporter meets IATA Packing Instruction 650 (International Air Transport Association, 2005) when housing the haemoculture bottle, both as a secondary container (within the metal box rigid outer packaging) and itself as a rigid outer packaging and has passed the specified 1.2 m drop test (see http://www.saftpak.com/650.htm [accessed April 2006]). Since 2003, 380 PVC tubes containing blood culture bottles have been transported in PVC tubes within locked metal boxes without any leakage or breakage. We have found the PVC transporters to be useful and cost-efficient durable alternatives to the conventional IATA Packing Instruction 650 biological transport container.

Figure 2. PVC transporter with haemoculture bottle.