ABSTRACT
Objective To discuss the selection of conveyance and the temperature safeguards during the transport of blood specimens for centralized nucleic acid detection.Methods A total of five chips,which have been set every 10 minuets to record the temperature,have been placed in the Specimen box accordance with the appendix B ofblood transport requirements (WS/T 400-2012).Then,observe the temperature changes in case of ice been placed on both sides,sides and top,sides and bottom,sides and top,bottom of the specimen box respectively.Results In case of ice been placed on both sides of the specimen box,the temperatures were always higher than 10 ℃.In case of ice been placed on both sides and the top of the specimen box,the temperatures were all in range of 2-10 ℃ within 13 hours.In case of ice been placed on both sides and the bottom of the specimen box,only the temperatures of the top were always higher than 10℃.In case of ice been placed on both sides,top and bottom of the box,the temperatures of the bottom were always lower than 2 ℃.Conclusion In case of ice been placed on both sides and top of the box was the most appropriate temperature safeguards during the transport of blood specimens,while in the other cases,the temperatures were lower than 2 ℃,or higher than 10 ℃.
ABSTRACT
Background: Persistent diarrhoea is a major health problem for children in developing countries. Aims: This study was carried out to assess the microbial agents of persistent diarrhoea as well as other associated factors of infection. Methodology: Faecal and blood samples were collected from children less than 5 years of age with persistent diarrhoea in Edo State, Nigeria. The faecal specimens were processed using standard microbiological methods while the blood specimens were processed for malaria parasites using staining technique. Results: The overall results showed a prevalence of 42(25.1%). Single infection was 37(22.2%) while mixed infection had 5(3.0%). Rotavirus was the most prevalent microbial agent (23.4%), followed by cryptosporidium species (14.9%). Sex and age did not show statistical significance (P>0.05). The effects of associated factors of infection on diarrhoeal patients was not statistically significant (P>0.05), although, undernourished, low socioeconomic status and not breastfeeding children had higher rates of infection than their counterparts. Conclusion: Persistent diarrhoea is not uncommon in this locality since the prevalence rate was 25.1% Thus, preventive measures should be put in place to address the associated factors of persistent diarrhoea in order to minimize the reoccurrence of the infection.