Clinical samples from humans or animals

Clinical samples include blood, sputum, tissue, urine, faeces, bones, meat from a supermarket or butcher, roadkill, scavenged dead animals, feathers, etc.

Clinical samples from humans or animals may contain infectious microorganisms and need to be handled with the following controls.

1. You may need to apply for approval from the Human Research Ethics Committee or Animal Ethics Committee before you can source samples from humans or animals.  This process can take several months, so please check and apply early.

2. Clinical samples need to be handled following the Curtin University Guidelines for the safe storage, handling and use of clinical samples.

3. If you are planning to do this work at a non-Curtin site, you still must handle your samples safely, to the standard described above.

4. This Guideline will help you find the Risk Group of a human clinical sample.

5. If you need to transport your samples, you must transport them following the guidelines for transporting biohazards.

6. You cannot export samples from humans without checking to see if you need a permit from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).