Tulane University - Office of Environmental Health & Safety (OEHS) PACKAGING AND SHIPPING BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS Tulane University Employees who are responsible for packaging and shipping infectious materials and substances

Tulane University - Office of Environmental Health & Safety (OEHS) Objectives To know the definition of an infectious substance To know how to properly package etiologic agents and infectious substances To know Federal Express minimal requirements for shipping infectious substances

Tulane University - Office of Environmental Health & Safety (OEHS) Objectives To know how to properly label and package diagnostic and/or clinical specimens To know how to properly notify CDC if a package has failed to deliver or failed to receive To know how to properly fill out a Dangerous Goods Manifest for infectious substances

Tulane University - Office of Environmental Health & Safety (OEHS) Definitions Etiologic Agents / Infectious Substances are viable microorganisms or their toxin that causes or may cause disease in humans or animals. Diagnostic Specimens are defined as any human or animal material being shipped for purposes of diagnosis Biological Products are products that are prepared and manufactured in accordance with the Department of Agriculture or Health and Human Services

Tulane University - Office of Environmental Health & Safety (OEHS) Packaging of Etiologic Agents and Infectious Substances Volume not exceeding 50 ml –Primary container, water tight and secured –Secondary container, durable water tight –Absorbent materials in spaces between the primary and secondary container –Outer shipping container constructed of corrugated fiberboard, cardboard or wood

Tulane University - Office of Environmental Health & Safety (OEHS) Packaging of Etiologic Agents and Infectious Substances Volume exceeding 50 ml –Primary and Secondary Containers must be water tight and secured –Absorbent materials must be able to absorb the total volume of the secondary container –Primary container volume not to exceed 1000ml –Maximum amount in a single outer shipping container shall not exceed 4000 ml

Tulane University - Office of Environmental Health & Safety (OEHS) Packaging of Etiologic Agents and Infectious Substances If dry ice is used as a refrigerant, it must be placed outside the secondary container Dry ice amounts must be reported in pounds(lbs) and kilograms(kg) on shipping manifest

Tulane University - Office of Environmental Health & Safety (OEHS) Packaging of Etiologic Agents and Infectious Substances Outer Shipping container must be labeled properly DOT Infectious Substance label must be used and DOT Hazard Class label 9 must be used when shipping in dry ice

Tulane University - Office of Environmental Health & Safety (OEHS) Packaging of Etiologic Agents and Infectious Substances Outer Shipping container must bear the following markers: –United Nations symbol –Code designating the type of packaging –The text “Class 6” –The last two digits of the year of manufacture of the packaging –State authorizing the allocation of the mark –Name of the manufacture

Tulane University - Office of Environmental Health & Safety (OEHS)

Federal Express Minimal Requirements for Shipping Watertight Primary Receptacle Watertight Secondary Packaging Absorbent Material between primary and secondary packaging Sturdy Outside Packaging – Styrofoam, plastic bags and paper envelopes are unacceptable, minimum size 7”x 4”x2

Tulane University - Office of Environmental Health & Safety (OEHS) Containers and Packaging Materials

Tulane University - Office of Environmental Health & Safety (OEHS) Primary and Secondary Containers

Tulane University - Office of Environmental Health & Safety (OEHS) Markings and Labels

Tulane University - Office of Environmental Health & Safety (OEHS)

Diagnostic and Clinical Specimens As of January 1 st 2005 all diagnostic samples must have the UN 3373 label adjacent to Diagnostic or Clinical Specimen label on the external secondary packaging.

Tulane University - Office of Environmental Health & Safety (OEHS) Shipping of Diagnostic Samples With no known serious human or animal diseases UN3373

Tulane University - Office of Environmental Health & Safety (OEHS) Diagnostic Samples 1.Assemble required components Water-tight primary Water-tight secondary Sufficient absorbent material for liquids Itemized Packing List Outer shipping container box bearing the appropriate UN markings Diagnostic Specimens sticker The primary container may not contain more than 500 ml or 500g.

Tulane University - Office of Environmental Health & Safety (OEHS) Diagnostic Samples 2.Place sufficient absorbent material into the secondary container that can absorb the entire contents of the liquid shipment.

Tulane University - Office of Environmental Health & Safety (OEHS) Diagnostic Samples 3.Place tubes into bubble- wrap sleeves. Tubes must be individually wrapped and not in contact with each other so only one tube per compartment. 4.Roll the sleeve containing the tubes and secure it with a piece of tape.

Tulane University - Office of Environmental Health & Safety (OEHS) Diagnostic Samples 5.Place the bubble-wrapped primary containers into a suitable secondary container with sufficient absorbent material. 6.Close and tighten the cover on the secondary container.

Tulane University - Office of Environmental Health & Safety (OEHS) Diagnostic Samples 7.Place secondary container into the outer shipping container. 8.Place itemized list of contents between the secondary and outer containers.

Tulane University - Office of Environmental Health & Safety (OEHS) Diagnostic Samples 9.Label the shipping container with: Shipper / Consignee / Name and Number of Person Shipping and Person Receiving 24 Hour emergency number to call in case if damage or leakage to the package (for US shipments) UN Number Diagnostic Specimens Sticker Orientation arrows (usually pre-printed on the box) 10.Place labels on the box by following patterns outlined on the shipping container.

Tulane University - Office of Environmental Health & Safety (OEHS) Notice of Delivery and Failure to Receive Not received within 5 days Sender must notify CDC

Tulane University - Office of Environmental Health & Safety (OEHS) Shipping Manifest Must be filled out properly Must have a 24 hour contact number of sender Must be signed by sender Must have proper shipping name and hazard class

Tulane University - Office of Environmental Health & Safety (OEHS)

Shipping Manifest

Tulane University - Office of Environmental Health & Safety (OEHS) Shipping Manifest

Tulane University - Office of Environmental Health & Safety (OEHS) Packaging and Shipping Information Websites

Tulane University - Office of Environmental Health & Safety (OEHS) Summary To know the definition of an infectious substance To know how to properly package etiologic agents and infectious substances To know how to properly label and package diagnostic and/or clinical specimens To know how to properly notify CDC if a package has failed to deliver or failed to receive To know how to properly fill out a Dangerous Goods Manifest for infectious substances

Tulane University Office of Environmental Health & Safety (OEHS) Bruce McClue, Hazardous Waste Supervisor (504) / If unable to proceed to quiz, type the link below into your browser Proceed to Quiz