Edition 9 - June, 2001

The safe packaging of infectious microbial samples

Micro-organisms are shipped daily from one lab or culture collection to another. The packaging of microbial cultures, including samples containing micro-organisms, must be adequate lest the material present a hazard to people who may handle it during transport (including administrative, secretarial, and other support personnel) and to laboratory workers, plants, animals, or the environment at large. Obviously, this applies in particular to the shipment of infectious substances. The United Nations (UN) Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods defines infectious substances as those containing viable micro-organisms such as bacteria, viruses, rickettsiae, parasites or fungi, that are known or reasonably believed to cause disease in humans or animals.

The international regulations for the packaging and shipment of infectious material by any mode of transport are based on the Recommendations of the UN Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods. The Universal Postal Union (UPU) reflects these recommendations in its regulations, particularly for packaging. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) have also incorporated the UN recommendations in their respective regulations.

Infectious substances may only be transported in packaging that meets the UN Class 6.2 specifications. These specifications are contained in ICAO and IATA Regulations in the form of Packing Instruction 602. UN approved packaging systems are available commercially.

In general, a basic packaging system consists of three layers:

1. Primary receptacle: a labelled primary watertight, leak-proof receptacle containing the specimen.
   
   
2. Secondary container: a second durable, watertight, leak-proof container to enclose and protect the primary receptacle(s).
   It can contain several primaries which should be wrapped individually to prevent contact between them. Absorbent material should be placed between the primary and the secondary packaging and should be sufficient to absorb the entire contents of all primary receptacles in case of breakage.
   
   
3. Outer packaging: the secondary container is placed in an outer shipping package which protects its contents from outside influences such as physical damage and water while in transit.
   
   

It is imperative that the packages are duly documented and that the correct hazard labels are affixed. Data forms, letters and other types of information that identify or describe the specimen and also identify the shipper and receiver should be enclosed. will be set up on the same site.

Finally, we would like to thank all delegates who attended the workshop and actively participated in the discussions. We also acknowledge the highly appreciated contribution of the World Intellectual Property Organization, WIPO, and the financial support of the European Commission Directorate General XII for Science, Research and Development.

More detailed information on the packaging and transport of micro-organisms can be found on the following websites:

• WHO Guidelines for the Safe Transport of Infectious Substances and Diagnostic Specimens: http://www.who.int/emc/biosafety.html
  
  
• Universal Postal Union: http://www.upu.int
  
  
• IATA Dangerous Good Information: http://www.iata.org/cargo/dg/iata.htm
  
  
• SAF-T-PAK: http://www.saftpak.com
  
  
• List of dealers: http://www.saftpak.com/subdis.htm
  
  
• Publications UNECE Transport Division: http://www.unece.org/trans/danger/publ.htm
  
  
• The Belgian Biosafety Server: http://biosafety.ihe.be/Transport/Index.html
  

A new brochure describing the activities of BCCM has been published. It is available free of charge and can be requested at bccm.ostc@belspo.be or by fax at +32 (0)2 230 59 12

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