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Published on: April 13, 2005
On April 8, the CAP was alerted that a potentially hazardous influenza
A specimen, H2N2, which was provided by a CAP contractor, Meridian Bioscience,
was shipped in the second half of 2004 and early 2005 to laboratories
enrolled in CAP proficiency testing (PT) programs.
CAP immediately notified 3,747 proficiency testing laboratory customers
who received the samples to destroy them immediately and to report back
to the College on that action.
Although the risk to laboratory workers and the general population
is low, the College is continuing to work with the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention and the public health community to ensure all
samples are destroyed in a proper manner and that this event is not
repeated.
Meridian manufactured the specimens on behalf of the College and three
other PT providers: the Medical Lab Evaluators, the American Association
of Bioanalysts, and the American Association of Family Practitioners.
At the time the influenza A specimen was provided, Meridian understood
that the specimen was still a Biohazard Safety Level 2.
It is against CAP policy to use micro-organisms or other materials
associated with a risk of potentially causing harm in its proficiency
testing products, and the CAP is working with the CDC and College contractors
to ensure that all CAP PT products meet that standard.
For more information, contact the CAP
Communications Department.
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