Guidance to post-mortem collection and storage of biological specimens for the diagnosis of Covid-19 infection

Abstract

The following document is based on the current knowledge of SARS-CoV-2 and the related disease (COVID-19). The Italian Institute of Health (ISS) is monitoring the virus spread throughout the country through daily reports sent by individual regions and regional reference laboratories. The diagnosis of infection is based on the use of standardized and validated molecular tests for the search for viral RNA in different sets of biological samples, from patients suspected of having contracted the infection. This document provides a specific guidance for the collection and storage of biological samples from deceased persons. It also provides recommendations on safety practices to be adopted during both collection and handling of specimens, and during autopsy procedures. With regard autopsy, it is recommended to follow the procedures for the execution of diagnostic findings in patients died with SARS-CoV-2 infection issued by ISS Working Group on Causes of Death from COVID-19, published on March 27, 2020.