- A. Samples of shellfish growing waters, properly collected and labeled in accordance with criteria stipulated in the current edition of American Public Health Association (APHA) Recommended Procedures for the Examination of Sea Water and Shellfish and appropriate sections in Official Methods of Analysis of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (A.O.A.C.), shall be brought to a certified Louisiana shellfish sanitation laboratory immediately after collected and preferably within one hour after collection. When conditions necessitate delay in the transport of samples, the samples shall be kept at a temperature at or below 10°C until bacteriologic examination. In no case shall samples be tested if they have been held for more than 30 hours.
- B. The submitter shall bring the samples, which must be clearly identified, directly to the shellfish laboratory. The submitter shall transfer possession of the sample to the laboratory scientist on duty or place the samples in a secured, designated area of the laboratory.
- C. The receiving laboratory scientist shall verify the receipt of the samples and record the date and temperature of receipt in an appropriate manner. Analysis should begin immediately after receipt and preferably within one hour after collection. When conditions necessitate delay in the analysis of samples, the samples shall be kept at a temperature at or below 10°C until microbiologic examination. In no case shall samples be tested if they have been held for more than 30 hours.
- D. Samples shall be held at a temperature at or below 10°C for a minimum of 30 hours after collection before being discarded.
Authority Note
AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 40:4.A.(1) and R.S. 40:5.3.
Historical Note
HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Public Health, LR 28:1295 (June 2002).