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Are there conflicting regulations for shipping infectious substances?

Lab Safety Advisor, March 14, 2006

Q: We currently are only mailing diagnostic specimens. CAP refers to only training employees who ship infectious substances. Is there a regulation that all employees sending diagnostic specimens must be certified in packaging?

A: Yes, the United States Postal Service (USPS) requirements are under title 39 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Simply put, it says you must meet DOT requirements and DOT is title 49 CFR 100-199. DOT says you must use packaging that is appropriate for ground or air and the air requirements are mandated by IATA. Your employees must be trained in packaging every two years or when there is a change in the regulations. The 2006 regulations are the same as they were in 2005 but there will be some changes in 2007.

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