Health Update
A:H1N1 SWINE-LIKE INFLUENZA LAB COURIER STANDARD OPERATING PROTOCOLS

The following are A:H1N1 swine-like Influenza Lab Courier Standard Operating Protocols. Protocols include transportation and storage requirement of nasopharyngeal specimens and pick up locations.

Transportation and Storage Requirements:

1. Influenza Virus Detection Kits contains:
   1. Requisition form
   2. 1 screw capped tube
   3. 2 flexible nasopharyngeal swabs
2. Collect specimens as soon as possible after onset of symptoms.
3. Fill in patient name and date collected on tube.  (Two swabs must be sent)
4. Complete DPHL requisition form.
5. Collected nasopharyngeal swab specimens should be placed into the screw capped tube.
6. Place the collected specimens along with DPHL requisition slip back into original biohazard specimen bag. 
7. Immediately place in a refrigerator (2 to 8C).  Do Not Freeze.
8. Arrange for transportation of specimen at 4 C (on ice or in cool van) to DPHL within 24 hours after collection.  Courier specimen pick up locations can be found below or at the following web address: http://www.dhss.delaware.gov/dph/lab/courierroutes.html
9. The DPHL performs confirmatory Real-time RT-PCR for influenza A and A:H1N1 swine-like

(DPHL) Pick-up Locations and Courier Routes:

1. DPHL couriers pick-up specimens on daily morning runs at specified pick-up locations (See below locations).
2. Pick-up locations should have the specimens ready to pick-up by 08:00 a.m. for morning runs.
3. Depending on activity and/or volume, additional afternoon courier runs can be added, when necessary.  For afternoon runs, specimens must be ready by 01:00 p.m.
4. Physician offices can drop off their specimens at identified State of Delaware State Service Centers and are encouraged to utilize these locations.  (See locations below.  If you drop off specimens at any of the other sites not bolded, please contact the site for arrangements).
5. Additional drop-off locations have been identified at Christiana Hospital, Wilmington Hospital, Kent General Hospital, Milford Memorial Hospital, Beebe Memorial, A. I. DuPont Hospital for Children for physician offices. Locations are the following:
   1. Christiana Hospital Location: There is a labeled drop box placed at Christiana in room L119 (Lower Level) on the counter beside the drop off table for Receiving for the placement of Nasal Swabs that are brought in from the outside offices for PCR testing only.
   2. Wilmington Hospital: The specimen box is inside the entrance to the lab, room L2169 (Second Floor) on the right hand counter. There is a buzzer/intercom next to the door to request access.
   3. For Christiana and Wilmington Hospitals boxes are brown and have signs on each of three sides that states- “Place swabs for swine flu testing to be sent to Delaware Public Health Lab in this box”.
   4. Kent General Hospital:  Specimen drop off location is at the front of the laboratory on the third floor of the main hospital in the processing area. A specimen refrigerator is located on the left as you enter the area. A container is located on the third shelf of the refrigerator marked with a green label in which the specimens may be deposited.
   5. Milford Memorial Hospital:  Specimen drop off is at the laboratory on the first floor of the hospital.  A specimen refrigerator is located on the right as you enter the main laboratory with a container marked for influenza specimens on the second shelf.
   6. Beebe Medical Center:  Specimen drop off is directly at the Beebe Lab and physician offices can go directly to Beebe Security for Lab directions.
   7. A. I. DuPont Hospital for Children:  The physician office representative should bring the specimen to Outpatient Specimen Collection Area (OSCA) on the first floor of the hospital; the Outpatient entrance of the hospital is closest to OSCA. Specimens must be properly labeled, according to the DHSS requirements. Specimens can be dropped off between 8 AM and 4 PM, Monday through Friday.

Delaware Public Health Laboratory (DPHL) Courier Route Pick-up Locations

DPHL Southern Courier Route

Southern Route	Schedule	Specimen	Lab Testing:
Jesse Cooper Bldg.	Daily	Mail/Spec. Request	All Lab/State Service Ctrs.
Kent General Hospital 302.674.7249	Daily	Blood Cards	NBS
Bridgeville Internal Medicine	M, W, F, Flu Season only	Flu	Virology
Nanticoke Mears Campus Lab 302.628.1507	Daily	Blood Cards	NBS
Seaford Public Health 302.628.2006	Daily	GC/CT, Blood Urine, Viral, Flu	Micro & Virology
Nemours Seaford 302.629.5030	M, W, F	Blood Cards, Blood Lead	NBS & Chemistry
Nanticoke Hospital 302.629.6611	Daily	Blood Cards, TB, Viral Blood	NBS, Micro & Virology
Sussex Correctional 302.856.5281 X6227	Tue Only	Blood, GC/CT, Urine	Micro & Virology
Sussex County Health Unit 302.856.5132	Daily	Water, GC/CT, Blood, Urine, Viral, Flu	All Labs
Family Practice Center	M, W, F, Flu Season only	Flu	Virology
Beebe Hospital 302.645.3729	Daily	Blood Cards, Viral, GC/CT, Blood, Urine	NBS, Micro & Virology
Milford Hospital 302.424.5739	Daily	Blood Cards	NBS
Milford Health Unit302.424.7130	Daily	Water, GC/CT, Blood, Urine, Viral, Flu	All Labs
Stevenson House 302.422.1407	Tue & Fri	Urine, GC/CT, Blood	Micro & Virology
Planned Parenthood Dover 302.678.5200	Tue & Thu	GC/CT, Blood, Urine, Viral, Flu	Micro & Virology

DPHL Central Courier Route

Central Route	Schedule	Specimen	Lab Testing:
Christiana Hospital 302.733.3916	Daily	Blood Cards, Viral, Flu, Urine	NBS, Micro, Viral
Christiana Lab Services 302.653.0151	Daily	NSP Blood Cards	NBS
Limestone Rd (NCCHU) 302.995.8650	Daily	Water Kits, GC/CT, Viral	All Labs
Hudson State Service Center 302.368.6840	Daily	Water, TB, GC/CT, Blood & Viral	All Labs
Planned Parenthood Newark 302.731.7801	Daily	GC/CT, Urine, Blood & Viral, Flu	Micro & Virology
University of Delaware 302.831.2871	Daily	GC/CT, Urine, Blood & Viral, Flu	Micro & Virology
Middletown Heath Unit 302.653.6168	Daily	GC/CT, Urine, Blood & Viral, Flu	Micro & Virology
Middletown High School 302.378.5775	Daily	GC/CT, Urine, Blood & Viral, Flu	Micro & Virology
Dover Air Force Base 302.677.2492	M, W, F	Newborn Screening	NBS
Blue Hen Corp. Center 302.741.2990 or ODW 741.8630	Daily	Water & NSP	Chem, EMM & NBS
Kent County Health Unit 302.739.4728	Daily	Water, GC/CT, Urine, Blood & Viral, Flu	All Labs
Dept of Agriculture 302.739.4811	Daily	Rabies & West Nile	Virology & EMM
ARC Dover 302.658.5177	Fri. Only	GC/CT	Micro
Nemours Dover	M, W, F	Blood Cards, Blood lead	NBS & Chemistry
Southside Family Practice 302.735.1880	M, W, F, Flu Season only	Flu	Virology
Pediatric & Adolescent Health 302.678.8333	M, W, F, Flu Season only	Flu	Virology
Del State University 302.857.6393	Mon & Thu	GC/CT, Urine, Blood & Viral, Flu	Micro & Virology
Pat Gallagher 302.678.5111	M, W, F	Newborn blood cards	NBS

DPHL Northern Courier Route

Northern Route	Schedule	Specimen	Lab Testing:
Webbs Lane (DOC) 302.995.8614	Wed only	Blood	Virology
New Castle Detention Center 302.633.3121	Daily	Urine, GC/CT, Blood	Micro
DuPont Hospital 302.651.5673	Daily	Blood Cards, Viral & Flu	NBS & Virology
Claymont Family Health (ARC) 302.658.5177	Fri Only	Viral, GC/CT, Blood	Micro & Virology
Planned Parenthood Claymont 302.798.8000	Tue & Fri	GC/CT, Blood, Urine, Viral	Micro & Virology
Nemours Peds Philadelphia Pike 302.761.4660	M, W, F	Blood Cards & Blood lead	NSP & Chem
Plumber Prison (DOC) 302.577.3039	Wed	Blood, GC/CT, Urine	Micro & Virology
ARC Wilmington 302.658.5177	Tue & Thu	GC/CT, Blood, Urine, Viral	Micro & Virology
Howard R Young Correctional Ctr. 302.429.7793	Tue & Fri	GC/CT, Urine, Blood	Micro & Virology
Northeast State Service Center 302.522.3609	M, W,  F	GC/CT, Blood, Urine, Viral	Micro & Virology
Nemours Peds Jessup 302.576.5050	M, W, F	Blood Cards & Blood Lead	Micro & Virology
Wilmington Hospital 302.428.2909	M, W, F	Blood Cards	NBS
Planned Parenthood Wilmington 302.655.7293	Daily	GC/CT, Blood, Urine, Viral	Micro & Virology
Porter State Service Center 302.577.3521	Daily	GC/CT, Blood, Urine, Viral	Micro & Virology
Patricia Purcell MD 302.428.1142	Thu Only	Blood Cards	NBS
Birth Center 302.658.2229	M, W, F	Blood Cards	NBS
St Francis Hospital 302.421.4478	Daily	Blood Cards, Viral	NBS & Virology
Westside Health 302.655.5822	Daily	GC/CT, Blood, Urine, Viral & Blood Cards	Micro & Virology
Baylor Women’s Correctional 302.577.3004	Mon & Thu	GC/CT, Blood, Urine, Viral	Micro & Virology

For more information, please call the Delaware Public Health Laboratory at (302) 223-1520.