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Guidance

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

Updated 23 June 2026

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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

UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), on behalf of the UK National Authority of Containment (UK NAC), is reaching out to you to complete a short survey as part of our commitment to meet World Health Organization (WHO) requirements supporting global polio eradication. The survey is being distributed across the UK (including overseas territories, devolved administrations, and crown dependencies) to identify whether you hold Poliovirus Potentially Infectious Materials (PIM).  We are asking all facilities to complete this because it is possible that ‘non-polio’ facilities inadvertently hold PIM (faecal, respiratory, or concentrated sewage samples frozen at -20°C or below collected in a time and place where polioviruses were circulating or oral polio vaccines were in use). 

It is anticipated the majority of facilities contacted will not have PIM samples, but we would ask you still to complete the survey and return it via the secure link.  Responses received will be a formal record of the return from the facility and therefore it is important that the form is approved by the correct person.

Facilities with a high probability of holding PIM include those researching rotavirus or other intestinal viruses, hepatitis viruses, influenza/respiratory viruses, or measles virus. Others could include those involved in nutrition research or environmental facilities.  If your facility is identified as holding PIM samples, you will be referred to the UK NAC which is responsible for co-ordinating the safe management of any poliovirus PIM.  The UK NAC may contact you for further information to enable them to advise on the correct handling of these PIM samples. If your facility wishes to retain the PIM samples for other reasons, this will be discussed between the UK NAC and your facility. 

Please complete the survey as soon as possible after receiving the invitation. Once you have read all the relevant information you can complete the PIM survey online. Please note, we are unable to accept surveys returned outside this link.

The UKHSA privacy notice explains the personal information we collect, how we use it and who we may share it with.

If you have any questions, please contact us at pimsurvey@ukhsa.gov.uk. The email address is monitored daily, and we will respond as quickly as possible.

Thank you for your support and for playing a part in this vital step of the WHO global polio eradication programme.

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