UN3373- COVID-19 Test Samples

Infectious substances are classified as Dangerous Goods, which makes them subject to domestic & international shipping regulations for packaging & labeling for hazardous materials.

Category A infectious substances such as Ebola had more restrictive regulations due to the simple reason of it being life threatening.

Category B biological substance transport can be much less complicated than many other hazmat shipments.

According to the CDC, COVID-19 test samples must be kept frozen or between 2 – 8 °C (35.6 – 46.4 °F) at all times. Samples that do not stay in this range will be rejected, since they are more likely to give a “false negative” result.

“The most important thing is to test your package against the expected transport temperature range, and then adjust your phase change material until your sample stays in the required range.”

With new COVID-19 test sites setting up all over the United States and the world, many businesses and their employees will be transporting infectious substances for the first time.

These shippers must be aware of two important topics:

• In general: how to ensure their shipments comply with Dangerous Goods transport regulations (IATA, IMDG, ADR, 49CFR & TDG etc.)
• Specifically: how to ensure their test samples are not rejected by testing laboratories.

Samples not shipped according to these rules may be rejected:

1. Test samples must be kept frozen or between 2 – 8 °C (35.6 – 46.4 °F) at all times as they are sent to labs for diagnosis. Exposure to temperatures outside that range can compromise test samples and result in "false-negative" results. A false-negative possibly has dangerous implications to further spread of the virus as individuals may not self-quarantine if they do not believe they are infected.
2. Samples older than 72-hours are unacceptable, unless the sample(s) are frozen.
3. Samples must be shipped as UN 3373, Biological Substance, Category B
4. Improperly labeled, grossly contaminated, broken, or with significant leakage in transit will be rejected.
5. Improperly collected, i.e. swabs with calcium alginate or cotton tips, swabs with wooden shafts are unacceptable.
6. Specimens collected in contact with substances inhibitory to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology including heparin, hemoglobin, ethanol, and EDTA will be rejected.

If you want more in-depth knowledge on:

Using Correct Placarding, Labels, Classification, Segregation, Dangerous Goods Declaration, Whether a product is DG or Non DG, feel free to fill up the form.

Stay Safe, Stay Home!