Dear David,
The Guildford MDA Evaluation Unit commenced an evaluation of 11 FOB
devices in January of this year at the invitation of the National
Screening Committee and with the explicit purpose of providing advice to
that Committee. The transport of specimens from home to testing centre
has always been a matter of concern and is the reason why discussions
have already taken place between a representative of the National
Screening Committee and the Royal Mail.
As I understand no definitive advice has yet been obtained on the
specific arrangement that will pertain to the various devices currently
under consideration however we are working on the premise that the
programme will have abide by the regulations imposed upon Clinical
Laboratories.
We will shortly be performing a 'field evaluation' of various sampling
devices at which approved Royal Mail transport arrangements will be
examined.
Best Wishes,
Stephen P. Halloran
Director MDA Evaluation Unit - Guildford
In your e-mail
>
>We also noted the announcement to the press of the DH-
>sponsored pilot screening programme.
>
>Our interests, however, differed slightly from Jonathan Kay's - are
>the Royal Mail aware that individual members of the public are
>likely to be slipping 'dirty postcards' into the inland post? Are stool
>specimens not 'likely to contain risk group 1-3 organisms', and
>thus breach their new regulations (still scheduled to be enforced
>from 1 April for infectious materials)?
>
>Presumably members of the public indulging in 'osteoporosis
>screening' tests are unlikely to be 'infectious', so Superdrug will be
>in the clear?
>
>We have been unable to obtain clear guidance (though Royal Mail
>did not seem particularly enamoured last year about handling
>enveloped faecal specimens), and therefore suspect that others will
>have had similar problems so any definitive comments (especially
>from the labs which will be receiving these specimens) would be
>welcome!
>
>We still maintain that EQA materials tested to the same extent as
>transfusions should be classified as 'non-infectious biological
>products', and thus outside the scope of IATA and Royal Mail
>restrictions.
>
>
>Dr David Bullock
>Director, Wolfson EQA Laboratory
>P O Box 3909, Birmingham B15 2UE, U K
>FAX: 0121 414 1179 [+44 121 414 1179]
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