e. Transport Container. When the samples/specimens must be transported on commercial aircraft, an IATA-approved sample transport container must be used for shipment/delivery to the CONUS laboratory.
f. Coolants. Samples/specimens submitted for laboratory analysis must be properly packaged, labeled, and shipped to ensure they arrive in an analytically acceptable condition. All samples should be maintained at a temperature of 1° to 4°C during transport. Ideally, samples/specimens should arrive at the in-theater laboratory within 6 hours of collection. The samples/specimens should be delivered to the CONUS laboratory within 24 to 48 hours. If the samples/specimens cannot be delivered to the CONUS laboratory within this time, then they should be flash frozen to -165°C, if capabilities are available. If available, dry ice should be used when flash freezing cannot be accomplished. If the samples/specimens cannot be delivered to the CONUS laboratory within 24 hours, the supporting laboratory should subculture the samples/specimens and send the subculture with the samples/specimens to the CONUS laboratory. The subculturing date should also be provided.
g. Internal Insulation. While a commercial ice chest provides good insulation of both the samples/specimens and the coolant, it is best to place extra insulation and cushioning around the metal cans inside the chest. Newspapers, plastic bubble wrap, and foam rubber may all be used with almost equally good results except newspapers and standard ice do not mix well.
B-17. Collection Reporting
a. The collector must provide a formatted message for transmission as soon as possible to report acquisition and shipment of samples/specimens. During special operations in a theater in which a Special Forces Group (SFG) is deployed, the message is transmitted by the fastest means through the fewest channels to the NBC control (NBCC) center. If a NBCC center has not been deployed to the area of operations, as in low-sample/specimen volume peacetime NBC sampling operation, the message is transmitted by the fastest means through the fewest channels to the message addressees below. In addition, a written report accompanies each sample/specimen or batch of samples/specimens. The collector ensures that the acquisition message has been properly classified.
b. The collection report includes at least the following addressees:
SECSTATE WASHDC
SECDEF WASHDCHOSD-ISA/OUS-DREH
JCS WASHDC//J-3/J-5H
CIA WASHDCHOSWR-STD-LSBNIC-NIO(STP)H
DIA WASHDC//DT-3B/DT-5A//
DIR AFMIC FT DETRICK MD//AFMIC-CR/AFMIC-SA//
DA WASHDC//DAMI-FIT/DAMO-SWC//
CMDT USACMLS FT LEONARD WOOD MO//ATSN-CM-CO//
CDR SBCCOM APG
MDHSMCCR-OPF/SMCTE-OPE-RA-ID2H
CDR FSTC CHARLOTTESVILLE VA//AIAST-RA-ID2H
CDR USAMRIID FT DETRICK MD (For suspect biological samples/specimens only.)
c. A collection message contains the following information:
- The sample/specimen identification number is part of the subject line if only a single sample/specimen is referred to in the text. Otherwise, refer to the sample/specimen number within the message body with its background information.
- The shipment date, mode of transportation, courier identification, air bill of lading number, flight number destination, and estimated time of arrival are included if the sample/specimen is to be shipped immediately. Also, the material courier receipt form (DD Form 1911) should be used to maintain chain of custody.
- Background information on the sample/specimen. Questionable circumstances surrounding acquisition of a sample/specimen. The name of another country or agency that acquired a sample/specimen from the same event or area and is not shown on the message address.
- A recommended priority and rationale for analysis to guide the analysis center on the assessment of the potential value of the sample/specimen.
- All details relating to the collection of the sample/specimen, regardless of how insignificant they may seem to the collector.
d. Ship all samples/specimens by the fastest, safest means, preferably by a technical escort unit (TEU) to the theater Chemical-Biological Sampling Control Element (CBSCE) or to a location the CBSCE designates. If there is no CBSCE in the theater, send the samples/specimens IAW preplanned instructions from the Chemical-Biological Sampling Control Center (CBSCC) at CBDA, Aberdeen, Maryland. The CBSCC uses the following criteria to determine the final destination of each sample: