# Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/1554 of 11 September 2015 laying down rules for the application of Directive 2006/88/EC as regards requirements for surveillance and diagnostic methods (notified under document C(2015) 6188) (Text with EEA relevance), Division I.2: Shipment of samples from fish

Extent: E+W+S+N.I.

Whole fish may be transported to the laboratory if the temperature requirements during transportation, as described in paragraph 3 of this point can be fulfilled. Whole fish shall be wrapped in absorbent paper and shipped in a plastic bag, chilled as described in that paragraph.
Live fish may also be shipped, but only under the supervision of the National reference laboratory for fish diseases and taking into account the additional disinfection and biosecurity issues when transporting live fish.
Blood samples and tubes containing fish tissues for virological examination or RT-PCR analysis shall be placed in insulated containers, such as thick-walled polystyrene boxes, together with sufficient ice or freeze blocks to ensure chilling of the samples during transportation to the laboratory. Freezing shall be avoided and ice must still be present in the transport box at receipt of the shipment or one or more of the ‘freeze blocks’ must still be partly or completely frozen. In exceptional circumstances, RT-PCR samples and samples for virological examination may be snap-frozen and transported to the laboratory at – 20 °C or below.
For RT-PCR analysis of tissues preserved in Ribonucleic acid(RNA)later, RNA extraction shall be carried out within the following time frames depending on the temperature the samples are stored at:
samples stored at 37 °C: 1 day;
samples stored at 25 °C: 1 week;
samples stored at 4 °C: 1 month;
samples stored at – 20 °C: indefinitely.
If fish tissues are transported in fixative for histological examination, they shall be shipped in leak proof tubes in impact-resistant containers. Freezing of those samples shall be avoided.
The virological examination on cell culture shall be started as soon as possible and no later than 48 hours after the collection of the samples. In exceptional cases, the virological examination may be started at the latest within 72 hours after the collection of the material, provided that the material to be examined is protected by a transport medium and that the temperature requirements during transportation can be fulfilled.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eudn/2015/1554/annex/II/part/3/division/I/division/I.2 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2015-1554/annex-II/part-3/division-I/division-I.2
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.