HLA/Immunogenetics Lab
What Not to Do
Here are a few photographic examples of PRA/monthly serum screen sample shipments gone awry.
Not only are all of these cases unsafe for everyone involved, but each is clearly against federal and state regulations regarding proper shipping of clinical specimens. This could land your facility a hefty fine or worse.
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| Case #1: Someone put these glass tubes of blood inside of this thin plastic case and then into this manila envelope before dropping into a U.S.P.S. mail box. Please don't do this! |
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Case #2: Six glass blood tubes inside of a metal can—no packing or absorbent material. Q: What’s wrong with this picture aside from the broken glass and blood splatter everywhere?
A: It wasn't even supposed to come to our lab in the first place! |
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| Case#3: Grocery bags as filler packaging? |
Please review the following information:
Shipping Hazardous Materials
Federal Regulations (49 CFR 172.704) require that all shippers must be trained and certified prior to doing any of the following jobs:
- Preparing shipping documentation
- Loading trucks
- Marking and labeling packages
- Filling packages
- Accepting packages for shipment and/or supervising these activities
The International Air Transport Assoiation requires training every 2 years for shipments by air. The U.S. Department of Transportation requires training every 3 years. If you have not been trained or your training has expired, please contact your local human resources department.
Fines and penalties may be imposed against universities, companies, and individuals who fail to comply with the applicable rules including proper classification, identification, packaging, marking, labeling, documentation and training.
Failure to comply with federal and international regulations can result in refusal of the shipment by the airline, penalties of fines, jail or both. Hand carrying of infectious substances by air is strictly prohibited by law.