This guideline has been prepared as an additional resource to assist in the classification of biological material for shipment. This guideline does not replace the requirement to complete the online training course,Shipping Infectious Substances with or without Dry Ice and is meant as a supplement to the course. The Biosafety Office at EHS has received several questions regarding how to classify commonly used research material and we have included these biologicals in the list below. Category A Infectious SubstancesCategory A substances are infectious substances which are transported in a form that, when exposure to them occurs, is capable of causing permanent disability, life-threatening or fatal disease in otherwise healthy humans or animals. These shipments must follow Packing Instructions 620. Infectious substances* that would be shipped in this category include:
*A listing of other Category A infectious substances is available in the Shipping Infectious Substances with or without Dry Ice training course. Biological Substances Category BCategory B substances are infectious substances which do not meet the criteria for inclusion in Category A. These shipments must follow Packing Instructions 650. Biological material that would be shipped in this category includes:
Exempt ShipmentsExempt human/animal specimens are specimens in which it is NOT LIKELY that a pathogen is present. Professional judgment must be used; if you suspect the specimen may contain an infectious substance, it must be shipped accordingly. These shipments should be packaged using a triple packaging system and marked as “exempt human specimen” or “exempt animal specimen.” Exempt patient specimens include:
Biological material that is not considered infectious can also be shipped as exempt.
|