We describe a simple, sensitive, and reproducible method for using whole blood collected onto filter paper (dried blood spots) for detection and genotyping of hepatitis C virus RNA that can be useful in large field studies, particularly in settings where collection, preparation, storage, and shipment of samples at controlled temperature can be difficult.

Early identification and monitoring of the spread of resistant M. tuberculosis strains is essential to control tuberculosis. The paper-based transport device GenoCard enables the safe shipment of inactivated biological material and strains to be used for molecular detection of drug resistance.

Lymphocyte proliferation assays (LPAs) are widely used to assess T-lymphocyte function of patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection and other primary and secondary immunodeficiency disorders. Since these assays require expertise not readily available at all clinical sites, specimens may be shipped to central labs for testing. We conducted a large multicenter study to evaluate the eff...

In this paper we describe a new approach to solving the express shipment service network design problem. Conventional polyhedral methods for network design and network loading problems do not consistently solve instances of the planning problem we consider. Under a restricted version of the problem, we transform conventional formulations to a new formulation using what we term composite variabl...

In this paper we examine a consolidation and dispatching problem motivated by a multinational chemical company which has to decide routinely the best way of delivering a set of orders to its customers over a multi-day planning horizon. Every day the decision to be made includes order consolidation, vehicle dispatching as well as load packing into the vehicles. We develop a heuristic based on a ...

BACKGROUND Cord blood banking requires methods for shipping and storage. This study examines the influence of shipping via overnight courier on postthaw viability of cord blood. STUDY DESIGNS AND METHODS Anticoagulated cord blood was divided with one sample diluted 1:1 using STM-sav (a storage solution) and the other undiluted. Units were shipped from Minneapolis to Memphis and returned, RBC-...

The potential of slow phase chlorophyll fluorescence (CF) to predict the physiological status of Pelargonium propagules (seven varieties in 28 different batches) post shipment or post simulated shipment was evaluated. The rooting ability of the cuttings was recorded and used to confirm the results from the CF data. The use of cardboard versus polystyrene packaging and the inclusion of two treat...

BACKGROUND Shipment of organs during the allocation process aims to improve human leucocyte antigen (HLA) matching but can also have a detrimental effect by prolonging cold ischaemia. The overall effect of organ exchange on post-transplant outcomes in the Eurotransplant (ET) region has not been investigated. METHODS This is a retrospective single-centre cohort study to investigate the effect ...