Packaging and Shipping Training for Infectious Substances (Division 6.2)

You can also find job aids on the CDC website, which can be used by laboratory professional who pack and ship Division 6.2 infectious substances and dry ice. These include helpful guides such decision trees for USDOT and IATA to help shippers classify specimens as Category A, Category B, or exempt; a guide to assist with filling out shipping paperwork; and diagrams of properly prepared packages.
These job aids can be found here: Lab Training | CDC Training Job Aids

Sample rule out guidance, as well as packaging and shipping guidance, can be found on the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) website. Visit https://asm.org/Guideline/Packing-and-Shipping-Infectious-Substances.

• Category B:

  • Samples that are referred to MTPHL, except for NBS cards, will fall into Division 6.2. Most things will be Category B, which will not require formal training, but does require you to be familiar with and to follow the regulations for the mode of shipment you are using.
  • Category B Training:
    There are free trainings available for general awareness of shipment of biological substances. The following is available on the CDC Train website:
    Packing and Shipping Dangerous Goods: What the Laboratory Staff Must Know | CDC

• Category A:

  • Category A training cannot be just-in-time training unless someone who is trained is right there to walk you through and document it. General awareness training does not qualify as certification. Certification means that your employer “certifies” that you have fulfilled all training requirements. STEC cultures and cultures for rule-out of Bio-Terrorism agents are generally classified as Category A infectious substances, which does require formal training.
  • Category A Training:
    US Department of Transportation regulations are outlined here: https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/textidx?gp=&SID=46abf3a2039613dab4168bbc75da1d0f&mc=true&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title49/49chapterI.tpl. These include training requirements for hazardous materials such as dry ice and Category A infectious substances.