FBO (Foodborne/Waterborne Outbreaks)

 

 

The information provided is offered as a resource for Wisconsin Laboratories and Health Care Facilities.

Reporting Outbreaks

  • Any clusters of illness that are suspected to be related to foodborne or waterborne agents should be reported as soon as possible to the local public health department with jurisdiction.

  • A listing of Wisconsin local public health departments is available at
    http://www.dhfs.state.wi.us/localhealth/index.htm

 

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FBO Specimen Requisition Form for Local Public Health Departments

  • Specimen Requisition Form (Word DOC)
    This FBO requisition form is available for use only by local public health departments that are submitting specimens to the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene for investigation of foodborne and/or waterborne disease outbreaks.  

    When using this form, the local health department’s agency name and number must be written in the “Submitter” information box. 

  • Forms that are pre-printed with the local health department agency name and number should be used whenever available.

  • Order WSLH FBO requisition forms with your facility’s name and address preprinted by contacting the WSLH Clinical Orders Department (1-800-862-1088 or 608-265-2966).

  • Include a completed WSLH FBO requisition form for each specimen in a shipment. 

 

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Submitting Patient Specimens from a Suspected Foodborne or Waterborne Outbreak

  • For Norovirus and Enteric Bacterial Pathogen testing
    • Submit stool (fecal) sample in Carey Blair Medium (orange-capped vial labeled “Para-Pak C&S” if provided by WSLH, or its equivalent)
    • Check “Enteric Bacterial Pathogens (WSLH Test Code 610QS)” and “Norovirus PCR (WSLH Test Code 1932)” on the form

  • For Enteric Bacterial Pathogen testing
    • Submit stool (fecal) sample in Carey Blair Medium (orange-capped vial labeled “Para-Pak C&S” if provided by WSLH, or its equivalent)
    • Check “Enteric Bacterial Pathogens (WSLH Test Code 610QS)” on the form

  • For Norovirus testing (no Bacterial tests)
    • Submit stool (fecal) sample in Carey Blair Medium (orange-capped vial labeled “Para-Pak C&S” if provided by WSLH, or its equivalent) OR in empty sterile container
    • Check “Norovirus PCR (WSLH Test Code 1932)” on the form

  • For Ova and Parasite testing
    • Submit stool (fecal) sample in O& P preservative (pink-capped vial labeled “Para-Pak, 10% BUFFERED NEUTRAL FORMALIN” and gray-capped vial “Para-Pak, Zn-PVA FIXATIVE” if provided by WSLH)
    • Check “Ova & Parasites (WSLH Test Code 670PVA)” on the form

         

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Packaging and Transport of FBO Specimens

 

Contact the WSLH Clinical Orders Department (1-800-862-1088 or 608-265-2966) to order a shipping container (WSLH Kit # 10 for Enteric Bacterial and/or Norovirus specimens; WSLH Kit #3 for O&P specimens).  WSLH shipping containers are provided at no cost to Wisconsin facilities and agencies.  Containers are usually received within 2 work days after the order is placed. 

  • Packaging
    • It is the submitter’s responsibility to ensure that specimens are appropriately packaged to prevent leakage and meet regulatory requirements.

    • Packaging Patient Specimens:  Most patient specimens for foodborne or waterborne disease investigations should be packaged as "Category B Biological Substances" for transport unless the specimen is suspected to contain a Category A Infectious Substance.
      • Include a refrigerant pack with any Norovirus specimens submitted in empty, sterile containers; the refrigerant pack is not needed for specimens submitted in Carey Blair medium or for O&P specimens submitted in the O&P media.  


    • Packaging Isolates:  Most Isolates related to foodborne or waterborne disease outbreaks should be packaged as "Category B Biological Substances" for transport, unless the isolate is suspected or confirmed to be a Category A Infectious Substance, which includes suspected or confirmed isolates of verotoxigenic E. coli, Clostridium botulinum, and Shigella dysenteriae type I.


  • Specimen Transport
    • Transport and testing of these samples are provided at no cost to the submitter, as part of Wisconsin’s Enteric Pathogens Surveillance (WEPS) program. 

    • Contact the Dunham Express office in your area and refer to account number 7271 to arrange transport.   

       


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