Laboratory
Diagnosing Ebola virus disease requires close contact with bodily fluids, and it is important that the collection, testing and transfer of specimens suspected of being infected with Ebola virus is managed in a safe manner.
Staff involved drawing blood samples, collecting oral swabs from deceased patients, performing diagnostic testing and shipping human blood samples need to be trained in collection, storage, packing and transporting of specimens in accordance with established guidelines.
Adherence to guidelines by laboratory staff helps ensure rapid and safe testing of specimens and timely transmission of results.
On this page you will find WHO’s guidelines and recommendations for the safe collection, testing and handling of suspected Ebola virus specimens.
Resources
- Laboratory guidance for the diagnosis of Ebola virus disease. Interim recommendations
- How to safely ship human blood samples from suspected Ebola cases within a country by road, rail and sea
- How to safely collect oral swabs from deceased patients suspected to be infected with Ebola
- WHO guidelines on drawing blood: best practices in phlebotomy