At a glance
The guidance outlines measures to mitigate the risks associated with poliovirus potentially infectious materials (PIM) in laboratory and non-laboratory settings. Contact the U.S. NAC for additional guidance.
Overview
This guidance applies to laboratories and various facilities that collect, handle, or store infectious materials in or from areas known or suspected to have circulating polioviruses.
These are non-essential poliovirus facilities and include:
- Public health and clinical testing laboratories
- Research and environmental testing laboratories
- Healthcare providers
- Vaccine producers
- Storage facilities
- Facilities that treat human waste and sewage.
Poliovirus Identification
U.S. NAC interim guidance describes biosafety, security, and other measures to store and handle PV PIM in a safe and secure manner by mitigating the risks PV poses to personnel, the environment, and the global eradication of poliovirus.
A single U.S. paralytic polio case was identified in a person in Rockland County, New York, in July 2022. Vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) was detected in subsequent local wastewater samples from multiple counties in the surrounding geographical area. The polioviruses identified from the New York paralytic polio case and wastewater samples met criteria for circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus.
Contact the U.S. NAC for additional guidance regarding poliovirus identification.
Guidance for Laboratories
What you need to know
Laboratories in areas of ongoing poliovirus transmission should:
- Implement measures to mitigate the risks to personnel handling VDPV PIM.
- Inactivate PIM using a validated method.
- Report VDPV PIM retained for thirty (30) days or more to the U.S. NAC and notify U.S. NAC of PIM samples transferred to other facilities.
- Store PIM separately from non-PIM.
- Destroy any unneeded or nonessential VDPV PIM and contact the U.S. NAC to complete a U.S. NAC Destruction Attestation form.
Fact sheets
Guidance for Non-Laboratories
What you need to know
Non-laboratory facilities in areas of ongoing poliovirus transmission should:
- Implement measures to mitigate the risks to personnel collecting, handling, storing, or transporting VDPV PIM
- Report VDPV PIM retained for thirty (30) days or more to the U.S. NAC and notify U.S. NAC of PIM samples transferred to other facilities.
- Store PIM separately from non-PIM.
- Destroy any unneeded or nonessential VDPV PIM and contact the U.S. NAC to complete a U.S. NAC Destruction Attestation form.
- Non-laboratory facilities collecting upper respiratory samples should review and apply the ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø Interim Guidelines for Collecting and Handling of Clinical Specimens for COVID-19 Testing.
- Non-laboratory facilities handling human waste or sewage should consult the and ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø Guidance for Reducing Health Risks to Workers Handling Human Waste or Sewage documents.