Owing to their high sensitivity, these novel technologies require special precautions in sample handling and preparation, a pre-requisite not often achievable for free-ranging, natural populations of vertebrates.
Therefore, essential information and precautions about sampling strategies in the field and/or laboratory procedures are provided.
The outdoor pool's water filtration system is completely separate to the indoor pool's but as a precaution water samples have been tested and found to be safe.
During sampling and handling of each soil sample, precautions (e.g., sterilization with ethanol and gloves) were undertaken to avoid cross contamination.
Serum samples where obtained by venipuncture performed using standard protocol and precautions, and the samples drawn into one 10 ml red top Vacutainer® tube per participant.
The importance of proper sampling precautions is underscored by the evidence of contaminating sequences in four out of eight teeth that were taken from the ancient subjects after standard manipulation of the skeletal material by archaeologists and anthropologists.
The only criteria for including subjects into the present study were that they were adults with at least 3 intact permanent teeth (with closed apex) still sitting firmly in the alveolus and that the last layer of soil was untouched by archaeologists until the above mentioned sampling precautions could be taken.
With all aseptic precautions cord blood samples (with and without heparin) of all studied subjects were collected.
Patient 3 was advised to stay home and follow infection control precautions until respiratory samples tested negative.
Procedures for venipuncture and handling blood samples, including precautions to avoid zinc contamination of samples, were also demonstrated and written instructions were provided.
