Intend to Use: Vial specimen transport medium

Technology: Viral transport medium formulation and validation as per recommended microbiological procedures.

The current pandemic of a novel COVID-19 in the global human population has caused dramatic and unprecedented impact of the economy and prompted deployment of public health authorities around the world to counter the rapid spread of the virus by fasten the rapid test using diagnostic kits and vaccination process. To perform effective diagnostics it is important to have effective viral sampling procedure and to stuff the samples in a most preferred environment / medium for the smooth transit of viral specimen to the testing laboratory. A viral transport media (VTM) is a nutrient substance used to carry and maintain the viability of specimens (viruses) to a laboratory for the identification and further processing of the sample. Successful and reliable isolations of viruses can be accomplished when a suitable transport medium is used. The constituents of an appropriate viral transport media are selected to create an isotonic solution containing proteins to protect the viral structure, antibiotics to control microbial contamination, and one or more buffers to control the pH.

Viral transport media are prepared with the idea of sustaining the viability of the viral culture or specimens for tests like the nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) while preventing the drying of the sample. The Virostuff is a Viral Transport Medium (VTM) allows the safe transfer of viruses for further research, including conventional cell culture methods, diagnostic tests, and molecular biology techniques. VIROSTUFF VTM tubes are available in a screw cap plastic tube containing buffered proteins (serum, albumin or gelatin) and antibiotics. Antibiotics are usually incorporated into the viral transport media to suppress the growth of contaminating bacteria and fungi.

The following is a more elaborate procedure for the preparation of a VIROSTUFF VTM for humans:

• Inactivate 500ml of fetal Bovine (FBS) by heating for 30 minutes in a water bath at 56.0ºC+/- 1.0º C. Also used commercially inactivated FBS based on availability.
• Add 50mL of Gentamicin to 50mL of Amphotericin B then Filter sterilize this antibiotic mixture using a 0.20 to 0.45μm/150mL filter unit.
• Add 10 ml of the FBS to 500 ml Hanks Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS)
• Add 2 ml of the Gentamicin/ Amphotericin B mixture to the previously formed HBSS with FBS.
• Disperse the solutions in the bottles and cap the bottles. Mix it by inverting the bottle.
• Label the bottle along with the manufacturing date, additives and expiration date.
• Aliquot 3mL of the prepared medium into individual sterile conical screw-capped tubes (16x100mm tubes). Keep lids tightly closed after the medium is dispensed. Label the containers with the necessary information.
• Store at 2-28ºC.

Caution

• For transport of specimens only not to be taken internally
• Store at in clean environment @ 2-28°C or Room Temperature

COVID Sampling Requirements

1. Applicable sample types: upper respiratory tract samples (including throat swabs, nasal swabs, nasopharyngeal extracts, deep cough sputum); lower respiratory tract samples (including respiratory tract extracts, bronchial lavage fluid, lung tissue biopsy samples).
2. Sample collection: Collect according to the conventional sample collection method and place in VTM tubes and transport to the RTPCR laboratory.