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CIFOR OUE Guidelines

Recommendations on "universal" collection, shipment, testing and retention procedures for foodborne outbreak specimens, even in the early stages of an investigation. Based on syndromes and specific outbreak profiles, the guidelines are designed to provide adequate specimens for second-tier testing and pathogen discovery should an etiology prove elusive.

The OUE Guidelines cover both infectious and non-infectious agents. A companion OUE Agent List provides detailed information including incubation period, primary signs and symptoms, primary specimen(s) and key epidemiological information.

An application-based, interactive version of the OUE Guidelines provides guidance on recommended "universal" outbreak specimen collection, shipping information, recommended rule-out testing and long-term storage for negative specimens.

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