Preparing and Packing the Body for Transfer

• For transfer from a patient room to an autopsy unit, mortuary, crematorium, or burial site:
• Ensure that personnel who interact with the body (health care or mortuary staff, or the burial team) apply standard precautions, including hand hygiene before and after interaction with the body, and the environment; and use appropriate PPE according to the level of interaction with the body
• Prepare the body for transfer including removal of all lines, catheters and other tubes
• Ensure that any body fluids leaking from orifices are contained
• Keep both the movement and handling of the body to a minimum
• Wrap body in cloth and transfer it as soon as possible to the mortuary area
• There is no need to disinfect the body before transfer to the mortuary area
• Body bags are not necessary, although they may be used for other reasons (e.g. excessive body fluid leakage)
• No special transport equipment or vehicle is required