Samples need to be transported for subsequent processing and testing. Various transport systems can be used, covering long or short distances.
Clinics, practices and laboratories who are posting or transporting samples by air, sea, rail and road between local, regional and reference laboratories, or between laboratories in other countries, must adhere to a number of regulations. These regulations are designed to deal with transportation accidents and spills, reduce biohazards and keep samples intact for testing.
Regulations are given by several sources, including:
- National transport regulations
- IATA
- Rail and road traffic agencies
- Postal services
Compliance is mandatory in order to reduce risk to couriers, carrier, laboratory staff and passengers.
Sample transport requirements are based on the category of samples being transported. Infectious substances are classified as Category A or Category B.
TDL does not arrange for transport of Category A samples (infectious substances capable of causing permanent disability or life threatening or fatal disease to humans or animals).
Instruction and packaging for Category B is provided, covering Biological Substances, UN number UN 3373.
TDL Collect: Specimen Collection Services by Courier
TDL operates a dedicated and extensive specimen collection service. TDL Collect provides a 24 hour professional sample collection service on an urgent, regular or random basis. No charge is made for collections from practice within the M25. Sample collection from practices outside the M25 is by arrangement and may incur courier charges.
Find out more about TDL Collect
TDL Postal Pathology
Postal Pathology is a particularly suitable method of transport for occupational health, insurance companies and general practice.
Find out more about TDL Postal Pathology
It’s very common for practices to ship blood samples and specimens to full service laboratories for off-site testing. In many cases a satellite practice will want to utilize the full service lab across town, which sounds easy enough, but definitely includes some safe shipping considerations.
Safe ground transportation of specimens to and from laboratories is governed by regulation issued by the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). The DOT divides it’s regulations into nine classes, but labs are primarily concerned with Class 6.2 – Infectious Substances and Class 9 – Miscellaneous (which includes dry ice, often used for preservation).
Labs typically purchase packaging materials such as sealable plastic bags and boxes for transporting blood specimens. These labs rely on the fact that the manufacturer has met requirements for these materials; their main duty is to use the correct packaging for the materials being shipped, and to label packages properly.
When lab specimens are transported across a public street or highway they are covered by the DOT requirements. This means they must be boxed and labeled appropriately for a biological specimen (unless it meets the definition of infectious). Coolers with the biohazard label on them that are secured in the car (usually on the floor of the back seat) will meet those requirements.
Other considerations for ground shipment of biological substances:
- Use triple packaging consisting of a leak-proof primary receptacle (e.g. a blood tube), a leak-proof secondary package (e.g. sealable plastic bag), and an outer package (e.g. cardboard box or cooler if you are transporting it yourself)
- Place absorbent materials between the primary receptacle and the secondary packaging and be sure to make sure there is no contact between primary receptacles if they are placed in the same sealable plastic bagg
- Secure the secondary packaging with cushioning material (e.g. bubble wrap)
- When you are done, the package should be able to withstand a drop from about four feet
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