The following information outlines laboratory practices and procedures that are required in order to protect University employees, students, visitors, community and the environment from hazards of biological origin. It is critical that anyone working with biological agents at Syracuse University read this section carefully.
Contents
3.1 Biosafety Levels
The National Institute of Health, Center for Disease Control, Laboratory for Disease Control, and Commission of the European Communities have conducted risk assessments of pathogenic agents and have defined recommended biosafety levels for many potential pathogen. The recommended biosafety level for an organism represents those conditions under which the agent can be safely handled. The framework for selecting the appropriate biosafety level or risk group was based on, but not limited to, pathogenicity, route of transmission, agent stability, infectious dose, concentration, origin, availability of data from human studies, availability of an effective prophylaxis, and medical surveillance.
3.1.1 Biosafety Level 1
Biosafety Level 1 (BSL1) safety precautions apply to low or non-pathogenic strains and to activities with pathogenic organisms or toxins that pose extremely low risk of exposure to personnel. The following must be met when working with biosafety level 1 organisms:
- Keep laboratory door closed when experiments are in progress.
- Use procedures that minimize aerosols.
- Do not smoke, eat, drink or store food in BSL1 areas.
- Wear laboratory gowns or coats when appropriate to protect clothing and skin.
- Do not mouth pipette. Use mechanical pipetting devices.
- Avoid using hypodermic needles.
- Wash hands after completing experimental procedures and before leaving laboratory.
- Disinfect work surfaces at least daily and immediately after any spill and before leaving the area.
- Decontaminate all biological wastes before discarding.
- Decontaminate other contaminated materials before washing, reuse, or discard.
- For offsite disposal, package contaminated materials in closed, durable, leakproof containers.
- Control insect and rodent infestations.
- Keep areas neat and clean.
3.1.2 Biosafety Level 2
Biosafety Level 2 (BSL2) safety precautions apply to pathogenic organisms which pose a moderate potential hazard to personnel and the environment. The following must be met when working with biosafety level 2 organisms:
- Keep laboratory door closed.
- Assure universal biohazard labels are properly posted on equipment and where infectious agents are used/stored.
- Allow only persons informed of the research to enter BSL2 areas.
- Keep animals not used in BSL2 experiment out of the laboratory.
- Do not smoke, eat, drink, store food or apply cosmetics in BSL2 areas.
- Wear PPE (laboratory gowns or coats, gloves and full face protection) when handling infectious agents; do not wear PPE outside of the laboratory.
- Wash hands after removing PPE as well as before leaving laboratory.
- Change PPE when soiled or compromised.
- Do not mouth pipette. Use mechanical pipetting devices.
- Use procedures that minimize aerosol formation.
- Avoid using hypodermic needles.
- Substitute plastic for glass where feasible.
- Use biological safety cabinets (BSCs) to contain aerosol producing equipment.
- Wash hands after completing experimental procedures and before leaving laboratory.
- Disinfect work surfaces at least daily and immediately after any spill and before leaving the area.
- Maintain a biological spill kit within the laboratory.
- Report spills, accidents, near misses and disease symptoms related to laboratory acquired infection to the PI.
- Ensure that all biomedical waste containers are labeled with the biohazard symbol.
- Decontaminate all biological wastes before disposal. Decontaminate other contaminated materials before washing, reuse, or disposal.
- For offsite disposal, package contaminated materials in closed, durable, leakproof containers.
- Control insect and rodent infestations.
- Keep areas neat and clean.
3.1.3 Biosafety Level 2+
Biosafety level 2+ (BSL2+) is the designation utilized for those biohazard experiments that require practices that are more stringent than standard BSL2 procedures. Generally, BSL3 practices will be mandated in a space designed for BSL2 work. It is preferred that the BSL2 laboratory be self contained with all equipment required for the experiment located within the laboratory. A biohazard door sign listing the agent in use, emergency contact, and entry requirements is posted on the door while BSL2+ work is in progress and access is restricted to those involved in the experiment. When work is completed and equipment has been decontaminated, the sign is removed and the laboratory is returned to standard BSL2 use.
All manipulations of BSL2+ material are conducted in a class II biological safety cabinet and secondary containment is utilized for centrifugation and other potential aerosol generating procedures. The Biosafety Officer must be notified prior to initiating any work at BSL2+.
3.1.4 Biosafety Level 3 and 4
Currently, SU does not have the facilities required for the use or storage of Biosafety Level 3 or Biosafety Level 4 pathogens and these materials are not allowed at the University at this time.
3.2 Housekeeping
Well defined housekeeping procedures and schedules are essential in reducing the risks associated with working with pathogenic agents and in protecting the integrity of the research program. Routine housekeeping must be relied on to provide a work area free of significant sources of background contamination.
The primary function of routine housekeeping in the laboratory is to:
- Provide an orderly work area conducive to the accomplishment of the research program.
- Provide work areas devoid of physical hazards.
- Provide a clean work area with background contamination ideally held to a zero level but more realistically to a level such that extraordinary measures in sterile techniques are not required to maintain integrity of the biological systems under study.
- Prevent the accumulation of materials from current and past experiments that constitute a hazard to laboratory personnel.
- Prevent the creation of aerosols of hazardous materials as a result of the housekeeping procedures used.
It is important that housekeeping tasks be assigned to personnel who are knowledgeable of the research environment. The recommended approach to housekeeping is the assignment of housekeeping tasks to the research teams on an individual basis for their immediate work areas and on a cooperative basis for areas of common usage. The supervisor should provide schedules and perform frequent inspection to assure compliance. Routine custodial activity (mopping, trash removal, plumbing, etc.) shall only be permitted under the supervision of trained laboratory personnel. Labs shall be secured when unoccupied and prevent the access of custodial workers.
3.3 Standard Operating Procedures
Standard operating procedures shall be created for tasks involving the handling of BSL2 or higher microorganisms (including Select Agents). Each laboratory shall develop a standard operating procedure (SOP) specific to the agent or toxin used in that laboratory. The SOP shall identify the hazards that will be encountered in normal use of the agent or toxin, and those that could be encountered in case of a spill or other accident. The SOP should also specify the policies and practices to be used to minimize risks (i.e. containment and PPE, spill management, and accidental exposure management). These policies shall be in writing and readily available for training and review by employees working within the lab.
This SOP format includes the following sections:
- Emergency Procedures / Notification
- Designated Area
- PPE
- Safety Equipment
- Hazard Control
- Decontamination Procedures
- Waste Disposal
These SOP documents will form the basis for training new laboratory personnel in proper handling procedures.
3.4 Selecting Chemical Disinfectants
No single chemical disinfectant or method will be effective or practical for all situations in which decontamination is required. Selection of chemical disinfectants and procedures must be preceded by practical consideration of the purposes for the decontamination and the interacting factors that will ultimately determine how that purpose is to be achieved. Selection of any given procedure will be influenced by the information derived from answers to the following questions:
- What is the target organism(s)?
- What disinfectants, in what form, are known to, or can be expected to, inactivate the target organism(s)?
- What degree of inactivation is required?
- What is the highest concentration of organisms anticipated to be encountered?
- Can the disinfectant, either as a liquid, vapor, or gas, be expected to contact the organism and can effective duration of contact be maintained?
- What restrictions apply with respect to compatibility of materials?
- What is the stability of the disinfectant in use concentrations, and does the anticipated use situation require immediate availability of the disinfectant or will sufficient time be available for preparation of the working concentration shortly before its anticipated use?
It is the responsibility of the Principal Investigator to ensure that the disinfectants selected are capable of destroying all microbiological agents used in the laboratory.
3.5 Personal Protective Equipment Requirements
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is used to protect the laboratory worker from contact with infectious agents, chemicals, and other physical hazards. Personal protective equipment is also critical for those experiments that involve sterile technique because the personal protective equipment may prevent inadvertent contamination.
Certain experiments involving aerosol or splash generating procedures may increase the hazard level of the experiment and warrant the use respirators. All workers required to wear any type a respiratory protection must be approved by the Occupational Health Manager and shall be enrolled in the Syracuse University Respiratory Protection Program. Sometimes personal protective equipment is necessary because the available facilities lack the necessary engineering controls that would alleviate the need for certain PPE.
The following list includes the most common items of personal protective equipment used in the lab.
- PPE shall be provided to all employees who are at risk of occupational exposure to infectious agents, at no cost to the employee.
- PPE is considered appropriate only if it does not permit potentially infectious material to pass through to the employee’s work clothes, street clothes or undergarments, skin, eyes, or other mucous membranes under normal working conditions and for the duration of time that protective equipment shall be used.
- The PI shall ensure that employees wear the PPE, and that training in the proper wearing and use of such equipment is provided.
- The PI shall ensure that PPE in appropriate quantities is readily accessible at the work site in an appropriate range of sizes.
- Personal protective equipment must be changed whenever contaminated and cleaned as soon as it is feasible or at the end of the experiment. Required PPE shall be cleaned, laundered, repaired or replaced at no cost to the employee.
- PPE shall be removed prior to leaving the immediate work area and placed in an appropriate container or location for storage, cleaning, decontamination or disposal. Gloves shall be removed prior to entering a public area such as an elevator or phone booth to avoid inadvertently contaminating such public facilities.
- Gloves shall be worn when it is reasonably anticipated that the employee may have hand contact with potentially infectious materials.
- Disposable gloves shall be replaced when practical after contamination or whenever feasible after they are torn or otherwise rendered ineffective to provide barrier protection.
- Disposable or other single use gloves shall be disposed of immediately after use and prior to contact with the environment outside the immediate work area.
- Utility gloves may be decontaminated for reuse if the integrity of the glove has not been compromised. However, they shall be discarded if they are peeling, cracking, or exhibit any sign of deterioration which would compromise adequate barrier protection.
- All employees shall wear shoes in the lab. Open toed sandals are not permitted.
3.6 Accident Procedures
The laboratory SOP must also enumerate the steps a worker will take in response to an accidental spill or exposure to the Select Agent in use. The prudent response will depend on the nature of the accident. The SOP accident procedures must outline potential scenarios (release, skin exposure, inhalation exposure, etc.) and the immediate control and notification steps that must follow to minimize exposure to people and damage and contamination to property.
3.7 Emergency Procedures for Exposure Incidents
An “exposure incident” is specific contact (eye, mouth, other mucous membrane, respiratory tract via inhalation, nonintact skin, or parenteral) with potentially infectious materials that results from the performance of an worker’s duties. An employee who sustains a known or potential exposure incident must remove gloves and treat the affected area immediately by following the appropriate exposure incident response below.
Percutaneous Injury
- Wash the affected area with antiseptic soap and warm water for 15 minutes.
Splash to Face
- Flush affected area in eyewash for 15 minutes.
Aerosol Exposure
- Hold your breath and immediately leave room. Remove Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) carefully. When removing PPE make sure to turn the exposed areas inward. Wash hands well with soap and water. Post spill sign on lab entry; lab should be evacuated for at least 30 minutes. For extensive BSL2 contamination (i.e. centrifuge incident) or incidents involving BSL2+ or BSL3 agents, EHSS must be notified and in conjunction with the PI, allow re-entry into the lab.
3.8 Reporting Incident
The worker must report any unanticipated exposure, potential exposure, accident, or injury received on the job to his/her supervisor. The supervisor must complete a Injury Report form documenting the route of exposure and the circumstances under which the incident occurred and provide a copy to the Biosafety Officer.
3.9 Investigation of Laboratory Accidents
The Environmental Health Safety Services (EHSS) office, in cooperation with the principal investigator and his or her staff, will conduct the necessary investigation of a laboratory accident. The goal of the investigation is the prevention of similar accidents as well as obtaining information concerning the circumstances and number of employees who have been exposed to the agent in question. In addition, EHSS, in consultation with Health Services might institute further steps to monitor the health of those who may have been exposed to the agent in question. It should be emphasized that the reporting of accidents to the principal investigator or laboratory supervisor is the responsibility of the worker involved. Please also report incidents that did not result in an exposure (near miss) to EHSS. Evaluation of near misses can lead to alternative work practices and implementation of engineering controls to minimize future incidents. Whenever an injury involves a sharp and human material (body fluid, tissue, cell line, etc.) the Biosafety Officer must perform an investigation to determine if a safe sharps device is available to prevent future occurrences of the injury. If safe sharps devices are available they must be evaluated by the Biosafety Officer in conjunction with the lab group or department. The incident must also be recorded on the University’s Sharps Injury Log. The confidential log will include the type and brand of device involved in the incident; the department or work area where the exposure incident occurred; and an explanation of how the incident occurred.
3.10 Spill Response Procedures
Infectious agents and biohazardous chemicals must be handled in research projects only when procedures are in place to deal with spills and other accidents, including needle-stick injuries.
The spill and accident plans must be developed by the Principal Investigator, and must be in written form and readily available in the laboratory. Certain projects will require special attention to personal protective equipment or pre-planning of medical emergency preparedness (e.g. if use of a specific toxin is planned, availability of the anti-toxin must be determined). In projects involving bloodborne pathogens, the Bloodborne Pathogens Plan will include spill cleanup and needle-stick procedures.
The Biosafety Officer and the EHSS staff are available for consultation and assistance in development of written operating and accident preparedness procedures. Factors to consider:
- Laboratory access control
- Hygienic and personal protective practices
- Operational practices
- Decontamination & waste disposal
- Control of aerosols and volatile substances
- Housekeeping practices
- Emergency plan
3.10.1 Specific Biohazard Spill Procedures
The following generic spill cleanup procedures are appropriate for many spills of biological agents encountered at SU. Spill cleanup should be conducted only by trained departmental, or by EHSS staff. Personal protective equipment appropriate to the severity of the spill must be used. At a minimum this will include rubber gloves and safety glasses. All University Laboratories in which a BSL2 (or above) spill may occur, must be prepared to adequately respond to small scale spills and incidents.
Small Biohazardous Spill (including blood or body fluids):
- Cover spill with paper towels.
- Flood spill with appropriate disinfectant (1:10 dilution of bleach), using care not to cause spatter. Add disinfectant slowly to outer margin and allow it to flow in.
- Allow disinfectant to act for 30 minutes before cleaning up with more paper towels and fresh disinfectant.
- Discard materials (paper towels, gloves, and other wastes from clean up) into plastic bag and seal. Contact EHSS for disposal.
Large Biohazardous Spill Outside a Biological Safety Cabinet:
- Hold your breath, leave the room immediately, and close the door.
- Notify others in the area not to enter the contaminated room. Call the EHSS and Safety for assistance. Post a warning sign to prevent entry.
- Remove and put your contaminated garments into a container for autoclaving and thoroughly wash your hands and face.
- The Biosafety Officer or EHS staff in cooperation with departmental staff will conduct the spill cleanup as follows:
- Wait 30 minutes to allow dissipation of spill created aerosols by the room ventilation.
- Wear appropriate coveralls, gloves, booties, and respiratory protection.
- Pour an appropriate solution (1:10 dilution of household bleach or other) around the spill and allow it to flow into the spill. Paper towels soaked with the disinfectant may be used to cover the area. To minimize aerosol generation, avoid pouring the disinfectant directly on the spill.
- Let stand 30 minutes to allow an adequate contact time.
- Using an autoclavable dustpan and squeegee, and forceps for sharp materials, transfer all contaminated materials (paper towels, glass, liquid, gloves, etc.) into an autoclave bag lined deep autoclave pan. Cover the pan with a suitable cover and autoclave according to standard directions. Decontaminated material will be checked and disposed of through the EHSS.
- The dust pan, squeegee, and forceps should be placed in an autoclave bag and autoclaved according to standard directions. Contact of reusable items with non-autoclavable plastic bags should be avoided separation of the plastic after autoclaving can be very difficult.
- Wash and mop adjacent area and spill area with appropriate disinfectant detergent solution.
- Remove and discard protective clothing with other waste material. Shower with germicidal soap.
Biohazardous Spill Inside a Biological Safety Cabinet:
When a spill occurs inside a BSC, the cabinet should continue to operate during the cleanup to prevent escape of contaminants. Chemical decontamination procedures should be initiated at once. Be careful with paper towels which can be sucked into the blower fan or HEPA filters. Cleanup will require appropriate personal protective equipment, including respiratory protection, so the EHSS should be called for assistance.
- Spray or wipe walls, work surfaces, and equipment with an appropriate disinfectant detergent, (e.g., 1:10 dilution of household bleach with 0.7% soap). A disinfectant detergent has the advantage of detergent activity, which is important because extraneous organic substances frequently interfere with disinfectant activity. The operator should wear appropriate protective equipment.
- Flood the top work surface tray, and if a Class II BSC, the drain pan below the work surface, with a disinfectant and allow to stand for 30 minutes.
- Remove excess disinfectant from the tray by wiping with a sponge or cloth soaked in a disinfectant. For Class II BSCs, drain the tray into the cabinet drain pan, lift out tray and removable exhaust grillwork, and wipe off top and bottom (underside) surfaces with a sponge soaked in a disinfectant. Then, replace the grillwork and drain disinfectant from the drain pan into an appropriate disposal container, collect all protective equipment, gloves, sponges, etc., and consult the EHSS for autoclaving and or disposal procedures.
3.11 Disposal of Biological Waste
Biological waste disposal procedures are highly regulated. The New York State regulations require compliance under DEC and DOH authority, and in Onondaga County, the Onondaga Solid Waste Disposal Authority has delineated specific guidelines.
6 NYCRR Part 364.9 defines medical waste as a solid waste generated in the diagnosis, treatment or immunization of human beings or animals, in research pertaining thereto, or in the production or testing of biological agents. Medical waste is then further defined as regulated medical waste, if it falls into specific categories stated in the standard. The items meeting the definition of regulated medical waste are those subject to the New York rules and regulations.
In Onondaga County, the Solid Waste Disposal Authority will not accept any Regulated Medical Waste, and upon any instance of regulated medical waste being deposited at a transfer station, the DEC will be notified, and the hauler will be assessed a fine. In addition, the Solid Waste Disposal Authority will not accept materials that may create a pest problem at the disposal site.
In addition, mixtures of hazardous chemical waste and regulated medical waste are subject to special handling that will provide for acceptable disposal under both sets of regulations.
Therefore, the SU Regulated Medical Waste Disposal System is set up to meet applicable regulations. Environmental Health and Safety Services will oversee and administer the system, including review of legislative changes, selection of the medical waste hauler and incinerator, education and training required for implementation, maintenance of the program and recordkeeping documentation.
Please refer to Syracuse University’s Medical Waste Disposal Policy and Procedure
3.11.1 Departmental Collection of Biological Waste
It is the PI’s responsibility to establish a waste collection area within a laboratory setting. This may require the purchase of refrigerators or freezers dedicated to holding perishable and putrescent regulated medical waste prior to its pickup for disposal. Weekly or biweekly pickups are currently scheduled to collect regulated and nonregulated medical waste generated at campus laboratories. Cultures of biosafety level 2 or higher organisms shall be biologically deactivated (via autoclave or chemical) before pickup to control health risks at the accumulation areas. In addition, waste from all nonexempt rDNA experiments must be biologically deactivated before disposal as Regulated Medical Waste.
3.12 Designated Areas
Storage and use area of Biosafety level 2 (and above) must be designated with signs and labels in order to communicate the hazard associated with specific locations. PI’s are responsible for creating or purchasing signs and labels and must comply with the requirements listed below.
Door Signs
Entryways to research and clinical area that handle BSL 2 (and above), human blood, or other potentially infectious materials must be posted with a biohazard sign. The sign includes the international biohazard symbol, bears the legend “Biohazard”, and identifies the name of the infectious agent, any special entrance requirements, and the name and phone numbers of the principal investigator or any other responsible persons. The following elements must be included on the door sign:
- Name of infectious agent,
- Special entrance requirements,
- Name, telephone number of the principal investigator or other responsible person.
The door signs shall be fluorescent orange-red (or predominantly so) with lettering or symbols in a contrasting color.
Labels
Warning labels with the international biohazard symbol shall be affixed to vessels, equipment, and containers including, but not limited to, sinks, benches, refrigerators, freezers, incubators, waterbaths, sonicators, biological safety cabinets and centrifuges containing BSL2 or higher agents, human blood or other potentially infectious material. Warning labels shall also be affixed to other containers used to store, transport or ship BSL2 or higher agents, human blood or “other potentially infectious material”.
3.13 Decommissioning
The laboratory PI is responsible for establishing specific safety and emergency procedures for all phases of decommissioning and ensuring chemical, physical, biological, and radiological hazards have been removed prior to releasing the space to new occupants. The requirements listed below are specifically designed for addressing the biological hazards in laboratories containing BSL2 organisms. The following procedures for decommissioning labs containing biosafety level 2 organisms shall be implemented:
- Inform the Syracuse University Biosafety Officer of your upcoming move 30 days prior to the anticipated move date.
- Inventory the biological materials (recombinant DNA materials, microorganisms, cells and cell lines, tissues, organs, body fluids, biologically derived or contaminated media, and any toxins of biological origin) and determine which materials will be transferred to your new laboratory, to another principal investigator, or destroyed. A list of biological materials to be relocated, transferred or destroyed must be provided to the Biosafety Officer 30 days prior to decommissioning the lab. This list must account for all biological materials represented in your current biological materials inventory. No biological materials may remain that are not inventoried. All transfers of biological materials must comply with Section 3.14, Biological Material Transfers.
- All biological safety cabinets require decontamination, even if they are not moved. The equipment must be certified again after the move to ensure filter integrity. Only the original manufacturer or an approved vendor may decontaminate or certify the functionality of a biosafety cabinet.
- All surfaces and equipment (microscopes, sinks, incubators, refrigerators, etc.) labeled as biohazardous must be decontaminated and the biohazard label removed. No equipment contaminated with biological material must be left in the vacated laboratory.
- During the move, all biological materials to be relocated must be transported using secondary containment. Wear appropriate personal protective equipment for the materials being handled (safety glasses or goggles, lab coat, gloves, closed-toe shoes, etc.).
- In your new lab, verify that biological safety cabinets have been re-certified by the manufacturing or a qualified vendor (if moved) or certified within the past year before beginning any work.
The PI is responsible for all costs associated with the complete decommissioning of the laboratory space. In cases where an abandoned laboratory is identified, the department the PI reported to will be responsible for the decommissioning.
3.14 Material Transfers
All onsite and offsite transfers of BSL2 and higher materials must be registered with Environmental Health and Safety Services. A list of biological materials to be transferred must be provided to the Biosafety Officer 30 days prior to actual transfer. A PI’s biological inventory must reflect the transfer of biological material. A Biological Material Record form must be submitted to the Biosafety Officer at the completion of the transfer. Principal Investigators are responsible for meeting the requirements listed below.
On-Site Transfers (Transfers to a Syracuse University Investigator)
Please follow the below requirements when transferring biological materials across Syracuse University property and streets.
- Inform the Syracuse University Biosafety Officer of your upcoming move and complete Biological Material Record of Transfer Form 30 days prior to the anticipated move date. Principal Investigator receiving Biosafety Level 2 organisms must submit an application for possession, form SA01, prior to use.
- Do not work alone. Never transport biological materials by yourself.
- During the move, all biological materials to be relocated must be transported using secondary containment. If the primary container is glass, the secondary container must be a sealed, rigid, unbreakable container. Place sufficient absorbent material between the primary and secondary containers to absorb all the volume being transported. Place a label on the container with the agent name and the name and phone number of an emergency contact.
- Wear appropriate personal protective equipment for the materials being handled (safety glasses or goggles, lab coat, gloves, closed-toe shoes, etc.).
- You may not transport biological materials in private vehicles.
- Package and move biological materials only during normal business hours (Monday-Friday 8:30 am 5:00 pm) so support staff will be available to help if there is a spill or accident.
- Never move open containers of biological materials in elevators. Do not leave biological materials or other items in the corridors during moving.
- Materials that will be moved on public roads must be shipped using a qualified vendor and in compliance with the Off-site Transfer Requirements.
- Ensure that you have immediate access to adequate and proper materials for cleanup of a spill at any point during the move. The spill guidelines should always be observed.
- Revisit your old lab space. Have any materials been left? Are any hazardous materials or unknowns left in your old lab?
- Leave the material with a known responsible individual in the receiving lab. Do not leave the material unattended or with an unknown individual.
Off-Site Transfers
Please follow the below requirement when biological material will be moved on public property and roads.
- Advance arrangements must be made with the recipient and carrier when shipping infectious/hazardous materials. Failure to comply with federal and international regulations can result in refusal of the shipment by the airline, penalties of fines, and/or jail.
- Biological materials must be properly identified and packaged for shipping. Before a package is sent out you must consider the hazards that would occur if the package were to be damaged during transport, including the possible release and aerosolization of the specimen if the package were crushed. It is your responsibility to ensure correct identification, classification, packaging, labeling, marking and documentation of all shipments of potentially hazardous biological materials.
- It is against the law to carry infectious/hazardous materials on an airplane. For example, if you visit another lab and want to take an infectious substance back to your lab, you CANNOT carry that sample on an airplane. It must be shipped by some other means like FedEx or UPS.
- Several agencies regulate the shipping of biological and hazardous materials. The regulations are designed to protect those outside the institution who may come into contact with the package or be exposed to the specimen in the event of an accident. The Principal Investigator must ensure compliance with all of the applicable agencies and regulations listed below.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulations. Apply to shipments of infectious and hazardous substances via international and domestic air transportation. Currently, IATA has the most stringent requirements for transportation of infectious substances.
US Department of Transportation (DOT) Hazardous Material Regulations. Regulates the domestic transport of infectious and hazardous substances.
United States Public Health Service (PHS) Interstate Transport of Etiologic Agents. Regulates domestic transport of infectious agents.
United States Postal Service (USPS) Domestic Mail Manual; Etiologic Preparations. Covers all shipments made through the US Postal Service.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Bloodborne Pathogens. Provides minimal packaging and labeling requirements for the transport of blood and body fluids.