{"id":2748,"date":"2021-01-26T15:35:44","date_gmt":"2021-01-26T15:35:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/agi.alabama.gov\/animalindustries\/?page_id=2748"},"modified":"2024-11-14T22:55:35","modified_gmt":"2024-11-14T22:55:35","slug":"shipping-instructions","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/agi.alabama.gov\/animalindustries\/avdl\/submission-forms\/shipping-instructions\/","title":{"rendered":"Shipping Instructions"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Safe, efficient processing of samples is a team effort between laboratory clients and accessioning office staff. Incomplete or improper labeling and packaging will most likely cause a delay in the processing of your samples.<\/p>\n

Our Shipping & Receiving Department (334-844-7226) can assist with referring to appropriate resources or answering shipping questions. The ultimate responsibility however for knowing and following the regulations rests with the submitter.<\/p>\n

It is the shipper\u2019s responsibility to know and follow shipping\/mailing regulations\u00a0\u2013 including any necessary staff training -<\/em>\u00a0for sending diagnostic specimens to the laboratory, regardless of the carrier chosen. Recent significant changes to the regulations for shipping diagnostic, clinical, or patient specimens can be found on the websites for all major carriers.<\/p>\n

Briefly, all clinical or diagnostic samples must be\u00a0triple packaged<\/strong>, with a primary leak-proof container placed into a secondary, leak-proof container along with sufficient absorbent material to fully absorb the liquid content in the event of a spill or breakage during transport. The\u00a0outer package must be made of sturdy rigid construction\u00a0<\/strong>(cooler, corrugated fiberboard, rigid plastic).\u00a0THE PACKAGE MUST NOT LEAK!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Outer packaging composed of brown paper envelopes, plastic carrier envelopes (i.e., UPS or FedEx envelopes), and Styrofoam containers, are\u00a0NOT IN COMPLIANCE.<\/strong>\u00a0All three major carriers in\u00a0Alabama\u00a0(USPS, UPS, and FedEx) have warned that improperly prepared or labeled packages are subject to return or disposal in the near future. Laboratory clients are strongly encouraged following the proper regulations now to avoid such problems. Compliant packaging is available from a variety of vendors. We prefer Saf-T-Pak (www.saftpak.com) products.<\/p>\n

EXEMPT ANIMAL SPECIMENS VS. BIOLOGICAL SUBSTANCE, CATEGORY B<\/h3>\n

Animal specimens for which there is minimal likelihood that pathogens are present are not subject to the Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) if the specimen is packaged and handled for transport safely.<\/p>\n

Examples\u00a0<\/strong>of specimens that may be transported as \u201cExempt Animal Specimens<\/strong>\u201d are:<\/p>\n

1. Substances in a form that any present pathogens have been neutralized or inactivated such that they no longer pose a health risk i.e. formalin fixed tissues<\/p>\n

2. Environmental samples (including food samples), which are not considered to pose a significant risk of infection.<\/p>\n

3. Direct patient specimen for which a professional judgment has determined a minimal likelihood of containing a pathogen i.e. blood & serum<\/p>\n

Specimens must be packaged so as not to leak and the box MUST be marked \u201cExempt Animal Specimen\u201d<\/p>\n

All other samples should be sent using IATA Packing Instructions 650 for Biological Substances, Category B \u2013training is required!<\/strong><\/p>\n

LABELING THE SPECIMENS:<\/h3>\n