03/21/2020: Lab Alert: Discontinue Use of the A549/MV1LU Mix for Respiratory Viral Culture Panels and Review Updated Biosafety FAQs
Audience: Clinical Laboratory Professionals
Level: Laboratory Alert
Discontinue Use of the A549/MV1LU Mix for Respiratory Viral Culture Panels and Review Updated Biosafety FAQs
Because of the risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2 among laboratory workers, CDC recommends that laboratories discontinue the use of the A549/MV1LU mix when they perform respiratory viral culture panels. Using these specific cell lines has been shown to result in a very low level of SARS-CoV replication. CDC recommends that laboratories perform respiratory viral culture panels using cell lines that will not support SARS-CoV viral replication.
Additionally, CDC has recently updated the biosafety guidelines and frequently asked questions (FAQs). According to the updated guidelines, cultures or isolates of SARS-CoV-2 may now be shipped according to regulations for UN 3373 Biological Substances, Category B.
Online resources:
- CDC’s Laboratory Outreach Communication System (LOCS)
- COVID-19 Information for Laboratories
- CDC Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines for COVID-19
- CDC COVID-19 website
- International Air Transport Association (IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulation
- IATA Packing Instructions
- Register for CDC Health Alert Network (HAN) notifications, including updates about COVID-19. Enter your email address, search for HAN, and sign up
If you have any questions, please contact us at LOCS@cdc.gov.
Laboratory Outreach Communication System | Division of Laboratory Systems (DLS)
Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services (CSELS)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)