Send-Out Protocol

The County of San Luis Obispo Public Health Laboratory (SLOPHL) is a participating reference laboratory of the national Laboratory Response Network for Biological Threats (LRN-B).  SLOPHL is responsible for LRN-B testing (principally Bioterrorism [BT] agent testing) in San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties.  Please follow the recommended guidelines listed below when you suspect that you have recovered one of the following organisms or have conducted testing that does not rule out:  

•     Bacillus anthracis or B. cereus biovar anthracis

•      Brucella species

•      Francisella tularensis

•    Burkholderia mallei

•    Burkholderia pseudomallei

•    Yersinia pestis

 Send-Out Guidelines:

1. Contact the SLOPHL to notify us of a suspect organism.
   1. Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm: (805) 781-5510 
   2. Saturday, 8 am to 4 pm: (805) 781-5508
   3. All other after-hours: (510) 205-8642 to reach the laboratory director, Dr. Glen Miller
2. Send either the original specimen (if no work-up has been performed) or the most representative culture with growth of the suspect biothreat agent. Suggested submissions for cultures in order of preference are:
   1. Slant: pure culture of suspect isolate
   2. Plate: pure culture of suspect isolate, securely taped and packaged
   3. Mixed plate: suspect culture, securely taped and packaged
3. Complete the bioterrorism test requisition and include with the submission.
4. We currently recommend shipping specimens via FedEx when possible. Clinical specimens/isolates should be sent as Category B (Standard Overnight). 
   1. We can provide a third-party FedEx account number for shipment.
      1. NOTES:
         1. Do not select “Dangerous Goods” in the FedEx shipping details. This is reserved for Category A shipments.
         2. Personnel at the submitting laboratory are responsible for undergoing certification to pack and ship Category B substances according to Department of Transportation (DOT) requirements. 
   2. Alternate shipping arrangements may be needed depending on the urgency and/or time of the week. You are welcome to use your own courier to transport specimens to expedite delivery. We can also arrange for the laboratory courier to pick up a specimen if needed.
5. If the specimen tests positive for one of the organisms listed above, you will be asked to decontaminate any remaining plates, slants, or culture bottles.
   1. Options for decontamination include autoclaving and chemical means. 
6. Upon request, the SLOPHL will perform MALDI-TOF identification on a Gram-negative isolate that has been ruled out as a biothreat agent. We can also forward an isolate to the California Department of Public Health for identification by whole-genome sequencing if needed. 
   1. NOTE: We cannot perform susceptibility testing on an isolate. Consequently, if susceptibility testing is needed on an isolate that has been ruled out as a biothreat agent, it will have to be sent back to you if you have not retained an isolate.
7. SLOPHL will contact your local jurisdiction Public Health Laboratory and the California Department of Public Health in the event of a positive confirmation.