New Principal Investigator Information Packaging and Shipping of Biomedical Materials Packaging and Shipping of Biomedical Materials Etiologic agents, infectious materials and vectors that may contain them are recognized by the federal government and state government as hazardous materials. Infectious materials are regularly transported from one location to another by common land and air carriers. Containers of infectious materials must be carefully packaged to prevent leakage or breakage and consequent exposure to package contents. Packaging instructions are provided below. Packaging and shipping of biomedical material must meet federal requirements.
Regulations governing the interstate shipment of etiologic agents are currently under revision.
It is the intent of the regulation that biomedical material which may contain etiologic agents will be packaged and shipped in such a way that the contents will not leak and will arrive in good condition. Etiologic agents are those viable microorganisms that cause disease in humans and include bacteria, bacterial toxins, viruses, fungi, rickettsia, protozoans and parasites. These disease-causing microorganisms may also be referred to as infectious agents or infectious substances. Infectious substances are those substances containing viable microorganisms or their toxins which are known, or are suspected to cause disease in animals or humans. Diagnostic specimens are any human or animal material including but not limited to, excreta, secreta, blood and its components, tissue, tissue fluids, etc., which the shipper reasonably believes may contain an etiologic agent and that is being shipped for purposes of diagnosis.