Sometimes it may be necessary to transport biohazardous materials from one laboratory location to another. Whenever it is necessary to transport biohazardous materials, animals, or plants between UK laboratory locations, special care must be taken to ensure the health and safety of the UK community.
When necessary to transport biohazardous materials between UK laboratory locations (for instance, transporting infectious agents from the primary lab location to DLAR for administration to animals), materials must be sealed in a primary container and placed within a leak-proof, shatter-proof, secure-lidded, secondary container such that if the secondary container were dropped, biohazardous materials would not be released into the surrounding environment.
Pay special attention to the path you will travel between laboratory locations, taking care to avoid public elevators, hallways, and otherwise crowded areas of campus.
Below are some examples of suitable secondary containers.
The transport of certain biological materials in personal vehicles is exempt from most DOT hazardous materials regulations, as long as they adhere to the requirements of the Materials of Trade (MOT) exception (49 CFR 173.134 (a)). This exemption applies when certain Division 6.2 materials are carried for purposes such as research, diagnosis, or investigational activities. Division 6.2 materials are defined as:
a. Category A, Infectious Substances (must be transported by contracted carrier)
b. Category B, Biological Substances
c. Patient specimens may be classified as Biological Substances, Category B or exempt depending on the health status of the patient.
Examples of exempt materials include Category B biological substances, non-infectious biological materials, and human samples for routine testing (49 CFR 173.134 (b)). This exclusion does not apply to Category A infectious substances or other categories of Dangerous Goods.
Material types which qualify for MOT exemption:
A division 6.2 material, other than a Category A infectious substance, contained in a patient sample being transported for research, diagnosis, investigational activities, or disease treatment or prevention, or a biological product, when such materials are transported by a private or contract carrier in a motor vehicle used exclusively to transport such materials. (49 CFR 173.134 (b) (10)).
Non-infectious biological materials from humans, animals, or plants. Examples include non-infectious cells, tissue cultures, blood or plasma from individuals not suspected of having an infectious disease, DNA, RNA or other non-infectious genetic elements. (49 CFR 173.134 (b) (2)).
A human or animal sample (including, but not limited to, secreta, excreta, blood and its components, tissue and tissue fluids, and body parts) being transported for routine testing not related to the diagnosis of an infectious disease, such as for drug/alcohol testing, cholesterol testing, blood glucose level testing, prostate specific antibody testing, testing to monitor kidney or liver function, or pregnancy testing, or for tests for diagnosis of non-infectious diseases, such as cancer biopsies, and for which there is a low probability the sample is infectious. (49 CFR 173.134 (b) (11)).
Corpses, remains, and anatomical parts intended for interment, cremation, or medical research at a college, hospital, or laboratory. (49 CFR 173.134 (b) (14)).
All biological samples must be packed according to DOT/International Air Transportation Association (IATA) regulations. This includes triple-packaging all samples, even if materials are exempt.
Primary receptacle: The primary receptacle holds the biological material and must be leak-proof or sift-proof.
Leak-proof secondary container: The secondary container must be durable, watertight, and leak-proof. The secondary container encloses and protects the primary receptacle(s).
Rigid outer container: The outer container is a rigid and durable container with one side that is at least 10 cm by 10 cm (or 4 inches by 4 inches) that houses the secondary container.
All biological samples should be transported in accordance with the following requirements:
All required DOT/IATA labeling and marking information should be on the outside of the package.
The vehicle shall be driven directly from the point of origin to the intended destination without stopping at other locations on the way. Specimens should be transported directly to the lab avoiding unnecessary additional stops/time in transit.
Materials needed to contain or clean-up a spill, such as absorbent pads, gloves, and eye protection, should be available in the vehicle. Spill kit supplies can be obtained by contacting biosafety@uky.edu.
Hazardous materials should be transported in the trunk or as far away from passengers as possible.
Personal vehicles must be dedicated to the purpose of transporting the specimens, not for any other purposes at the same time.
If temperature control is required for transport, please consider the following. Ethanol is NOT recommended. If using dry ice, a dry ice label should be placed on the container when in use and care should be taken to prevent off gassing. Liquid nitrogen up to 1 liter can be utilized in an appropriate container.
Environmental Quality Management Department (EQM) provides assistance to the UK community regarding the shipping of dangerous goods by providing the training required to originate such shipments. This training is required by the US Department of Transportation (DOT) which also mandates compliance with the International Air Transportation Association (IATA) training requirements. The DOT has established regulations(link is external) for domestic transport (within the United States) of hazardous materials by rail, air, vessel (ships), and motor carrier (ground). While IATA has established guidelines exclusively for the transport of dangerous goods by air (both domestic and international). The DOT term “Hazardous Material” and the IATA term “Dangerous Good” are used interchangeably by UK.
When shipping via air (international or domestic), you must use the IATA guidelines. Each commercial carrier may also have special provisions that must be met before a package containing dangerous goods can be transported on an aircraft. In addition, when shipping internationally, some countries have specific requirements for dangerous goods. All of these are addressed in the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations. Following IATA regulations is required regardless of the routing and whether the shipment ends up physically moving by air transportation, ground transportation, or a combination of these.
Anyone who is involved in any aspect of shipping biohazardous materials, including:
Packing
Labeling
Transporting
Signing Shipping Papers
All UK faculty, staff and students who are involved in any aspect of shipping dangerous goods as described above must be trained in conformance with DOT/IATA. The EQM offers, free of charge to the UK community, training that is commensurate with this regulatory standard. This training is provided on regular basis in either in-person or virtual formats depending upon the specific requests received. Class size is limited and pre-registration is required. The contact information to find out more about the availability of the Initial DOT/IATA Training Course or to register for the class is provided below:
Charles LoweSr. Hazardous Waste Specialist859-257-3147charles.lowe@uky.edu
At least every two (2) years following the completion of the Initial Training course, it is required to complete DOT/IATA Refresher Training to maintain the legal ability to ship dangerous goods. This refresher certification can only be taken by individuals who have previously successfully completed the Initial Training course. If Refresher Training is not completed within two (2) years of the Initial Training date, the classroom training must be retaken.
This class is available ONLINE.
Dry ice is a common and necessary preserving material accompanying many shipments of materials originating from UK. Therefore, the following basic information is provided but additional assistance can also be provided by contacting EQM:
The box must be labeled “Dry Ice”, “UN 1845” and the net quantity of dry ice (in Kilograms, kg.).
Carbon dioxide, solid (dry ice), when offered for transport by air, must be in packaging designed and constructed to permit the release of carbon dioxide gas and to prevent a build-up of pressure that could rupture the packaging.
All specific dry ice requirements are in addition to the labeling and packaging requirements for Biological Substances, Category B materials.
DOT Primary Hazard class label - must have at least one
Two (2) orientation arrows - on opposing sides of the package
Proper shipping name
UN number
Full name and address of the shipper and consignee
Name and phone number of person responsible
(NO PAGER NUMBERS PERMITTED)
An itemized list of contents, placed between the primary and secondary packaging
All markings must be on one side of the package
Container must be designed for infectious substances, i.e., a marking of “Class 6.2” must be indicated
Packaging must include:
Watertight primary container
Watertight secondary packaging
An itemized list of contents, enclosed between the secondary and outer packaging
Rigid outer packaging (no envelopes)
A container specifically designed for the transportation of infectious substances
When the infectious substances to be transported are unknown but suspected of meeting the criteria for inclusion in Category A and assignment to UN 2814 or UN 2900, the words “Suspected Category A Infectious Substance” must be shown in the parentheses following the proper shipping name on the itemized list of contents and the Shipper’s Declaration, but not on the outer packaging.
DOT Primary Hazard class label (must have at least one)
2 orientation arrows (on opposing sides of the package)
A name and 24 hour number of a person knowledgeable about the material being shipped must be on the container or shipping papers (It is recommended that the information also be placed on the itemized list of contents)
Primary receptacle
Secondary packaging; and
The completed package must be capable of successfully passing the drop test described in IATA Dangerous Goods regulations (6.6.1) except that the height of the drop must not be less than 1.2 m.
A dangerous goods manifest is not required when shipping a biological substance, category B material. An airway bill will suffice.
Clear instructions on filling and closing such packages must be provided by packaging manufacturers and subsequent distributors to the shipper or to the person who prepares the package (i.e., patient) to enable the package to be correctly prepared for transport. A copy of these instructions are to be kept for at least one (1) year.