Patent ID: 7304259

Claim:
A method of sorting mail according to the invention comprising: receiving a batch of first mail pieces identified as unknown source mail based on the locations from which the mail was collected in an apparatus for bulk processing of the mail pieces; receiving second mail pieces identified based on their source as having a lesser risk of contamination than the first mail pieces and keeping the second mail pieces separated from the first mail pieces until after the first mail pieces have been one of tested to determine if a potentially dangerous microorganism is present, or sterilized; processing the batch of first mail pieces in the bulk processing apparatus by one of testing the first mail pieces to determine if a potentially dangerous microorganism is present, sterilizing the first mail pieces to destroy microorganisms on the first mail pieces, or both, while maintaining the batch of first mail pieces separate from the second mail pieces; and if no contamination is detected or if sterilization is carried out for the batch of first mail pieces, then combining the first mail pieces at a later stage of postal processing with the second mail pieces.