Guidance

Invitation to participate in the potentially infectious materials (PIM) survey

Updated 24 July 2025

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/polio-global-eradication-nac-and-environmental-surveillance/invitation-to-participate-in-the-potentially-infectious-materials-pim-survey

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), acting on behalf of the UK National Authority for Containment (UK NAC), is conducting a vital survey to ensure all 4 UK countries meet the World Health Organization (WHO) requirements for the containment of poliovirus. The WHO Global Action Plan for Poliovirus Containment  (GAPIV) outlines the technical standards and core activities necessary to sustain a polio-free world following global certification of wild poliovirus eradication.

This survey is a key part of the UK’s commitment to the polio Post Certification Strategy, developed by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI). It aligns with the WHO  Global Action Plan for Poliovirus Containment  (GAPIV), which outlines the technical standards and core activities necessary to sustain a polio-free world following global certification of wild poliovirus eradication.

We ask that all relevant facilities work with us to ensure any poliovirus Potentially Infectious Materials (PIM) are appropriately identified and notified to the UK NAC for further action if required. Completing this survey is important to ensure that the UK is compliant with the WHO GAPIV requirements. 

If your facility stores human faecal, respiratory, or concentrated sewage samples frozen at –20°C or below, your input is essential to help reduce the risk of inadvertent release of poliovirus.

Information collected through this online survey will be shared with the UK NAC. The UK NAC will then advise on the safe management of any identified poliovirus PIM with specific guidance provided on appropriate handling of samples.

Please complete the survey within 90 days of receiving this invitation. Once you have read all the relevant information you can complete the PIM survey online.

If you have any questions or require further clarification, you can email: pimsurvey@ukhsa.gov.uk

We sincerely thank you for your participation in this important survey. Your engagement is a vital contribution to achieving and maintaining a polio-free world.

Once you log on to complete the survey, it needs to be fully completed in one session. It is not possible to save your progress part of the way through. To assist you in completing the survey, we have provided the resources listed below.

All documents and links shown below can be downloaded or accessed via the hyperlink at the top of the online survey under the instructions heading.

These include:

  1. MS word version of the survey to help you and your team collect an inventory of the required information before you submit the online survey
  2. survey definitions, terms and references
  3. use the PIM Tool to help you assess which samples are in scope or not
  4. guidance document
  5. UKHSA Global Polio Eradication pages which also include information about the National Authority for Containment of poliovirus: Polio: global eradication, NAC and environmental surveillance - GOV.UK
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