Transport of samples: Infectious substance

​4 Infectious substance, Category A - UN2814

4.1 Transport materials, transport temperature, and packing instruction

Regardless of transport temperature, the packaging must consist of the following three
components:

  • A watertight, leak-proof primary receptacle(s)
  • A watertight, leak-proof secondary packaging*
  • A rigid outer packaging

* For liquid infectious substances, enough absorbent material should be placed between the primary receptacle(s) and the secondary packaging to absorb the entire contents in case of leakage. Each primary sample should be individually wrapped so that there is no contact between the sampless.

Maximum allowable volume per package:

  • 50 mL or 50 g for passenger plane transport,
  • 4 litres or 4 kg for cargo plane transport

This weight or volume does not include ice packs or dry ice.

  • Ambient temperature, IATA packing instruction 620
  • One item available in the MSF catalogue:
    • BOX, triple packaging, infectious substance UN2814 [STSSUN62IS-]

Image

[Figure 4 - Shipping material UN2814 - Ambient temperature]

Image

[Figure 5 - Triple packaging box UN2814 - Ambient temperature]

  • Cold chain transport between +2 and + 8 °C, IATA packing instruction 620
  • The temperature is controlled by four ice packs that are pre-frozen and placed between the secondary and outer packaging.
  • One item available in the MSF catalogue:
    • BOX ISOTHERMAL, triple pack., infectious substance UN2814 [STSSUN62ISI]

Image

[Figure 6 - Shipping material UN2814 - Cold chain]

[Figure 7 - Triple packaging box UN2814 - Cold chain]

Insulated box that keeps the samples between +2 °C and +8 °C for 48 hours (at an ambient temperature of +28 °C).
Additional materials available:

  • CONTAINER, PROTECTION, transport of sample, plastic, Ø 30 mm [STSSCONP030P]
  • CONTAINER, PROTECTION, transport of sample, plastic, Ø 44 mm [STSSCONP044P]
  • CONTAINER, PROTECTION, transport of sample, plastic, Ø 130mm [STSSCONP130P]
  • POUCH, polyethylene, for transport of samples, 20 x 30 cm [ELABPOUP203]

4.2 Marking and labelling

The regulations on marking and labelling for ambient temperature transport and cold chain (2 °C to +8 °C) transport are the same. Additional information and a hazard label are required on outer packaging containing dry ice (see Section 2).

The outer packaging should display the following information:

  • The following pictograph (infectious substance symbol) (pre-printed on MSF materials) with UN2814 “Infectious substance, affecting humans”.

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[Figure 8 - Pictograph infectious substance]

  • The name and physical address of the recipient must be entered in the spaces provided (no post office boxes but provide any details that might facilitate direct delivery).
  • The name and physical address of the sender should be entered in the spaces provided.
  • The name and telephone number of someone in the field who can be contacted 24 hours a day should be entered in the spaces provided.
  • Shipments to the Institut Pasteur lab in France must bear the Institut’s own shipping label (see Section 6.6.5).

4.3 Transport modes

  • Infectious substances, Category A – UN2814 can be transported by an airline or possibly other transporters accredited by the IATA for UN2814 shipments (enquire locally). They cannot be transported by DHL.
  • For cold chain shipments, the transporter must be informed so that the package is placed in a refrigerated cargo container, if available.
  • Transporters can transport refrigerated packages, but not all of them maintain the cold chain (i.e., they do not replenish ice packs or add dry ice for cold chain shipments). The sender is responsible for ensuring that the cold chain system used (ice packs or dry ice) is sufficient for the entire duration of shipment.

4.4 Administrative documents

These are the responsibility of the supply and logistics departments.

  • A dangerous goods declaration (DGD): must include “Infectious substance, affecting humans (+ scientific name of the substance, if known, in parentheses)” or “Infectious substance, affecting humans (+ suspected Category A infectious substance, in brackets” (for example: “Infectious substance, affecting humans (Ebola virus)” or “Infectious substance, affecting human (suspected Category A infectious substance)”) + the net quantity. (see example, Section 6.2).
    Note: the DGD must be completed and signed by an IATA-accredited person. If this is not the case for MSF personnel or the local forwarding agent, contact the supply/logistics department and your laboratory advisor to get a list of accredited people within the departments.
  • A donation certificate with the address of the sender and the recipient, the exact name of the suspected pathogen, and the quantities contained, completed by the supply department (see, Section 6.3).
  • A custom invoice (with the monetary value of the product) prepared by the supply department or logistics coordinator, with the sender’s and recipient’s addresses, the number of packages, their contents, and their weight.
  • A Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) issued by the Ministry of Health or other competent authority of the country.
  • For some countries, an import permit is required in the recipient’s country; this will have to be furnished by the receiving laboratory.

A paper copy of these documents is given to the forwarding agent in the originating country. If there is a forwarding agent involved in the destination country as well, all of the documents must be provided to him in electronic form (logistics/supply department responsibility).

  • An anonymised packing list (without patient’s name) should be inserted between the secondary and tertiary packaging of the package in question.
    A copy of the packing list and the package’s anticipated arrival date should be emailed to the receiving laboratory.

The forwarding agent: an essential service provider for all air shipments of infectious or biological substances (UN2814 or UN3373).

  • Is commissioned by MSF.
  • Is the intermediary between MSF and the airline and/or between the airline and the receiving laboratory.
  • In some cases, a second forwarding agent may be needed to collect the package on arrival and facilitate its passage through customs.
  • Completes and signs the DGD if he has been accredited by the IATA for less than two years.
  • Completes the AWB (Air Waybill) (see Section 6.4):
    • The “handling information” box on the AWB must state “dangerous goods as per associated DGD”.
    • The AWB should include “UN2814 Infectious substance, affecting humans”, but not the name of the infectious agent.

Other conditions may be required for cargo shipments. Contact the supply/logistics advisor and notify the medical department.