Courier
Instructions
General
Packaging
Instructions
Guidelines
for
Shipping
Non-Infectious
Substances
within
the
United
States
Shipper's
Responsibility
Preparation
/
Shipping
of
Etiologic
Agents
Shipping
Infectious
Substances
with Courier
Courier
Instructions
To determine if an AMS courier services your area, please
call Client Services at: 1-800-876-0243.
- Place
all samples
for a single
patient in
an individual
specimen bag
containing
absorbent material.
Plastic specimen
bags/desiccant
are available
from AMS.
- Fold
requisitions
in half and
insert the
requisition
in the plastic
bag so that
the patient’s
name is displayed.
- Place
specimens in
biohazard bag
and remove
blue strip
and seal bag.
- If
a test requires
multiple samples
at different
temperatures
(for example:
one frozen
sample and
one sample
at room temperature),
place a copy
of the requisition
with each sample.
Write “Duplicate
requisition” on
each copy of
the Test Requisition
Form.
- If
the AMS courier
does not stop
at your laboratory
every day,
call the courier
and request
a special pickup.
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General
Packaging Instructions
U.S. Mail and Federal Express require specimen packaging
to include the following:
- Watertight
primary receptacle
- Watertight
secondary packaging
with biohazard
labeling
- Absorbent
material (desiccant)
placed between
the primary
receptacle
and the secondary
packaging
- Sturdy
outside packaging
constructed
of corrugated
fiberboard
(cardboard),
wood, metal
or plastic.
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Guidelines
for Shipping
Non-Infectious
Substances
within the
United States
The shipper is responsible for compliance with all shipping
regulations regarding proper packaging. To insure the most
rapid turn around times and to preserve the integrity of
the specimen, please follow the guidelines listed below.
Please call Client Services at 1-800-876-0243 if
you have any questions regarding test ordering or specimen
requirements.
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Shipper’s
Responsibility
The shipper is required to comply with the rules and guidelines
for transport of medical specimens as set forth by the
United States government, the government of the country
of origin
and international regulatory agencies. Failure to follow
instructions for packaging and shipping specimens can result
in the delay, loss or destruction of your specimens. AMS
will not be held responsible for any liability attributable
to the shipper’s improper actions or failure to comply
with regulations.
- Shipper
must comply
with any applicable
regulations
set forth by
the countries
of origin,
transit and
destination.
Violation of
these regulations
may be in breach
of national
laws and can
be subject
to civil or
criminal penalties.
- Shipper
must properly
identify, classify,
package, mark,
label and document
content of
the shipment
in accordance
with the laws
and regulations
of the countries
of origin,
transit and
destination.
- Shipper
must notify
AMS of the
shipping details
for tracking
purposes.
- Shipper
must provide
such information
to his employees
as will enable
them to carry
out their responsibilities
with regard
to the transport
laws and regulations
pertaining
to the goods
being shipped.
- Shipper’s
personnel
involved
in the preparation
of the packages
for the transport
of clinical
specimens
must have
received
training
to enable
them to carry
out their
responsibilities.
Personnel
must be retrained
on a regular
basis to
insure that
their knowledge
is current.
Initial and
recurrent
training
must be established
and maintained
by the shipper.
All records
of such training
must be made
available
upon request
to the appropriate
authorities.
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Preparation/Shipping
of Etiologic
Agents
Federal regulations require that etiologic agents (infectious
substances) be properly prepared and packaged before they
are shipped. The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part
42, Sections 72.1 through 72.5, governs the shipment of
etiologic
agents. The requirements are in addition to, and not in
lieu of, any other packaging or other requirements for
the transportation
of the etiologic agents in interstate traffic prescribed
by the Department of Transportation and other agencies
of the Federal Government. AMS is limited to receiving
those
specimens listed in the Directory of Services and not
all those listed under 52 CFR 72.3.
Certain specimens being sent to AMS may be considered to
be infectious substances. “An infectious substance
means a viable microorganism, or its toxin, that causes
or may cause disease in humans or animals, and includes
those agents listed in 42 CFR 72.3 of the regulations of
the Department of Health and Human Services and any other
agent that causes or may
cause severe, disabling or fatal disease. The terms infectious
substance and etiologic agent are synonymous.”
As the shipper, you are responsible for reviewing specimens
to determine if they are considered infectious before sending
to AMS or giving them to an AMS courier for shipment. It
is important that you make the determination of whether a
specimen is infectious based upon your knowledge of the specimen
being sent.
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Shipping
Infectious Substances
with Courier
In order to prepare a specimen for our courier that is considered
an infectious substance, you should package specimen in Exakt-Pak
container provided by AMS. If you do not have an Exakt-Pak
container, please call AMS Customer Service at 1-800-876-0243.
If you would like more information on the Department of Transportation
regulations concerning the shipment of infectious substances,
please contact AMS Customer Service at 1-800-876-0243.
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