Table 1.
Summary of the recommendations about the autopsies.
| WHO | CDC | RoyC | UK | Ire | ISS | Ita | Ind | Mal | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Hazard group
|
NA |
NA |
HG3 |
NA |
NA |
NA |
HG3 |
NA |
NA |
|
Autopsy room
|
Ventilation |
AIIR |
Ventilation |
NA |
NA |
BSL3 |
Ventilation |
Negative pressure |
BSL2 |
|
Post-mortem swabs
|
NA |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
NA |
Yes |
Yes |
NA |
Yes |
|
Tissues
|
NA |
|
NA |
NA |
NA |
|
|
NA |
|
| Lungs |
|
Yes |
|
|
|
Yes |
Yes |
|
Yes |
| Upper airway |
|
Yes |
|
|
|
Yes |
Yes |
|
NA |
| Liver |
|
Yes |
|
|
|
Yes |
Opt |
|
NA |
| Spleen |
|
Yes |
|
|
|
Yes |
NA |
|
NA |
| Kidney |
|
Yes |
|
|
|
Yes |
NA |
|
NA |
| Heart |
|
Yes |
|
|
|
Yes |
NA |
|
NA |
| GI tract |
|
Yes |
|
|
|
Yes |
NA |
|
NA |
| Muscles |
|
NA |
|
|
|
Yes |
Opt |
|
NA |
| Brain |
|
NA |
|
|
|
Yes |
NA |
|
NA |
| Lymph-nodes |
|
NA |
|
|
|
Yes |
NA |
|
NA |
| Pancreas |
|
NA |
|
|
|
Yes |
NA |
|
NA |
| Oscillating saw |
NA |
Vacuum |
Vacuum |
NA |
NA |
NA |
Vacuum |
Vacuum |
NA |
|
Autopsy
|
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
|
|
|
|
Yes |
| Ante-mortem confirmed diagnosis |
|
|
|
|
Not required |
Limited |
Discretionary |
Avoid |
|
| COVID-19 neg |
|
|
|
|
Autopsy |
|
|
|
|
| Diagnosis not confirmed |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mandatory |
|
|
|
PPE for pathologist
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Scrub suit |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
NA |
NA |
Yes |
NA |
NA |
Yes |
| Gown |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
NA |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Gloves |
3 pairs |
3 pairs |
2 pairs |
Yes |
NA |
3 pairs |
3 pairs |
NA |
3 pairs |
| Eye protection |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
NA |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
NA |
| Overshoes/boots |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
NA |
NA |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Mask |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Apron |
NA |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Yes |
NA |
NA |
Yes |
| Surgical cap | NA | Yes | Yes | NA | Option | Yes | Yes | NA |
WHO – World Health Organization [7], CDC – Centre of Disease Control [16], RoyC – Royal College of Pathologist [17], UK – UK Government [10], Ire – Coroner Service of Ireland [11], ISS – Italian National Institute of Health [18], Ita-Fineschi et al [12], Ind – Indian guidelines [14], Mal – National Institute of Forensic Medicine in Malaysia [13], Yes – recommended, NA – not assessed, Opt – optional, GI tract – gastrointestinal tract, HG3 – hazard group 3, BSL – biosafety level