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VIDEO: Improving the transport of field samples
ATLANTA — In this video, David Lowe, PhD, a Laboratory Leadership Service Fellow at the CDC’s National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, discusses different solutions for improving the transportation of medical samples while responding to emergency situations, such as an outbreak.
Lowe explained that it is unclear how long samples can be kept cold or frozen in the field, but if they are not stored properly, they become unfit for testing.
“Oftentimes in the field, loading a cooler properly can be overlooked,” he said.
Lowe said he looked to outdoor enthusiasts and football tailgate parties to develop innovative strategies for keeping samples cold.
For example, “a frozen water bottle is both available, reusable, and works just as well as expensive cold packs,” Lowe said.
Disclosure: Lowe reports no relevant financial disclosures.