Final answer:
When mailing a biological specimen, it should be labeled with the species name and BSL, and sent to the CDC. Proper labeling and adherence to safety protocols, like the CDC's BSL guidelines, are imperative for safe specimen handling.
Step-by-step explanation:
To properly mail a specimen for analysis, the specimen should be labeled with the species name and BioSafety Level (BSL) stated by your laboratory instructor. Following this, the sample should be sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is crucial to obtain cultures from your instructor, who will inform you of the species names. For example, one might be instructed to write M. luteus on a TSA plate when sub-culturing a bacteria sample.
When dealing with specimens, such as obtaining a sample for a primary culture, it is important to note its origin, for instance, the region of the body it was taken from. If you are making visual records like sketches or photography, a scale should be included to convey the size of the specimen.
Special care must be taken when handling specimens that are highly infectious or require certain safety levels of containment, such as F. tularensis, which requires BSL-2 or BSL-3 handling and is monitored by the Federal Select Agent Program. Always adhere to the CDC's BSL guidelines before proceeding with any specimen processing.