Question: What precautions should we take to move around specimens in a facility?

Answer passage (source: CDC):
page_title: Frequently Asked Questions about Biosafety and COVID-19
section_headers: Specimen Handling
How should laboratory personnel remove biohazardous waste from the laboratory or testing area for decontamination and disposal?
section_content: Handle laboratory waste from testing suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patient
specimens as all other biohazardous waste in the laboratory. Currently, there
is no evidence to suggest that this laboratory waste needs additional
packaging or disinfection procedures.
For additional information, refer to the following:

Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL) (5th edition)


Reviewer feedback on this answer:
Gives good general guidance on handling biohazardous specimens and links to detailed guidelines.
There could be more info here.  It talks about waste and specimens, but there is no info about moving the specimens and keeping safe.

Reviewer ratings:
Excellent
Could be Improved

Answer passage (source: CDC):
page_title: Frequently Asked Questions about Biosafety and COVID-19
section_headers: Specimen Handling
How should personnel transport suspected or confirmed SARS CoV-2 specimens within a facility?
section_content: Personnel should adhere to standard procedures associated with other
respiratory pathogens, such as seasonal influenza and other human
coronaviruses, when they transport specimens within a facility. Personnel
should perform site- and activity-specific risk assessments to determine if
enhanced biosafety precautions are warranted based on situational needs.
For additional information, refer to the following:

Interim Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines for Handling and Processing Specimens Associated with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Laboratory biosafety guidance related to the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).pdfpdf iconexternal icon


Reviewer feedback on this answer:
Says that personnel should treat coronavirus waste like waste from other respiratory diseases and links to detailed guidelines.
The passage is about keeping safe in a lab, but there is no info about moving specimens in a lab.

Reviewer ratings:
Excellent
Could be Improved

Answer passage (source: CDC):
page_title: Frequently Asked Questions about Biosafety and COVID-19
section_headers: Specimen Handling
How should specimens be stored?
section_content: Store specimens at 2-8oC for up to 72 hours after collection. If a delay
occurs in extraction, store specimens at -70oC or lower. Store extracted
nucleic acid samples at -70oC or lower.
For additional information, refer to the following:

Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Patients with Suspected or Confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Healthcare Settings
CDC 2019-Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Real-Time RT-PCR Diagnostic Panelexternal icon


Reviewer feedback on this answer:
Gives advice on storing specimens, though not safety advice specifically, and links to detailed guidelines.
There is info here about storing and keeping specimens.  This would be helpful to those that are asking the question, but the question about moving the specimen isn't answered.

Reviewer ratings:
Acceptable
Acceptable