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Biohazard Containment Biosafety Advisory for Veterinary Facilities
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
Interim Guidelines
March 10, 2004
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Subsequent to the recent Avian Influenza outbreaks in several Asian countries, the
United States and any additional areas as identified1,2,3, we are providing you
with the following interim biosafety advisory regarding the laboratory handling of
diagnostic specimens associated with this strain of influenza.
Precautions for laboratories receiving and processing veterinary diagnostic
specimens from suspected Avian Influenza cases3:
- specimens may be processed for packaging and distribution to diagnostic laboratories for
further testing in a Containment Level 2 laboratory4,5 using the additional
operational practices as outlined below
- routine diagnostic testing to rule out Avian Influenza may be performed in a Containment
Level 2 laboratory4,5 using the additional operational practices as outlined
below
Additional operational practices:
- laboratory workers should wear protective clothing (e.g. protective solid-front gowns,
gloves, shoe covers, eye protection and N95 respiratory protection) in accordance with the
risk of exposure when handling specimens
- manipulations that may produce aerosols should be carried in a certified biological
safety cabinet
- centrifugation of specimens should be carried out using sealed centrifuge cups or rotors
that are unloaded in a biological safety cabinet
- all contaminated liquid and solid waste to be decontaminated autoclaving, or by other
effective method, prior to disposal6,7
Precautions for laboratories handling veterinary diagnostic specimens from
suspect or confirmed Avian Influenza cases3 for isolation and further
manipulation of the agent:
- specimens must be sent to the National Centre for Foreign Animal Diseases (NCFAD) in
Winnipeg for confirmation
- specimens may be processed in a Containment Level 2 laboratory4,5 for
packaging and distribution to NCFAD for further testing using the additional operational
practices as outlined above
- manipulations involving growth of the agent should be in a Containment Level 3
laboratory4,5 using Containment Level 3 operational practices4,5
- Manipulations involving growth of the agent must not be performed in the same laboratory
that is simultaneously culturing material that may contain other influenza viruses
- PCR testing of extracted genetic material may be performed in a Containment Level 2
laboratory4,5
Note: For Containment Level 3 facilities manipulating specimens from
confirmed Avian Influenza cases, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) requires,
under the authority of the Health of Animals Act8, that operational
procedures must be reviewed and certified by the CFIA prior to work commencing. In
addition, all staff and visitors must agree before entering the laboratory, not to have
contact with avian and porcine species for a period of five (5) days.
For information on biosafety precautions for other activities (e.g. research with
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza), contact the Biohazard Containment and Safety Division
at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (613) 221-7088.
Transportation of diagnostic specimens:
- Packaging, shipping and transport of specimens must, as a minimum, comply with the
requirements of the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations, Transport Canada9
and the Dangerous Goods Regulations, International Air Transport Association10.
These requirements state:
- For air shipment, clinical specimens from suspicious and confirmed cases (i.e. samples
from patients meeting case definition) must be shipped as UN 3373 diagnostic specimens or
clinical specimens
- For air shipment, cultures of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus, must be shipped
as UN 2814 Infectious Substance affecting humans (Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
Virus)(Risk Group 3).
Further biosafety information may be obtained from the Biohazard
Containment and Safety Unit of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency at (613) 221-7088,
fax (613) 228-6129 or web site at: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/sci/bio/bioe.shtml
or the Office of Laboratory Security, Centre for Emergency Preparedness and Response,
Public Health Agency of Canada at (613) 957-1779, fax (613) 941-0596 or web site at: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/pphb-dgspsp/ols-bsl/index.html
References:
- Current SARS/Avian influenza (H5N1) affected areas, Public Health Agency of
Canada http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/pphb-dgspsp/h5n1/index.html
- Flu Information - Avian Influenza, Health Canada http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/diseases/flu/avian.html
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Animal Products, Animal Health and Production Division,
Avian Influenza, http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/heasan/disemala/avflu/avflue.shtml
- Containment Standards for Veterinary Facilities, 1st edition, 1996,
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/sci/lab/convet/convete.shtml
- Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines, 3rd Edition (Draft), Public Health
Agency of Canada http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/pphb-dgspsp/ols-bsl/lbg-ldmbl/index.html
- Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Pathogen Data Sheet. Canadian Food Inspection
Agency. Version 1.1, March 10, 2004 (draft). http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/sci/bio/avflue.shtml
- Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza MSDS. Office International des Epizooties.
Updated April 22, 2002. http://www.oie.int/eng/maladies/fiches/a_a150.htm
- Health of Animals Act, June 19,1990, http://laws.justice.gc.ca./en/H-3.3/fulltoc.html
- Transport Dangerous Goods, Transport Canada, http://www.tc.gc.ca/tdg/menu.htm
- Dangerous Goods Regulations, International Air Transport Association, https://www.iataonline.com/
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