Shipping Information

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.

• 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 ensure the most rapid turn around times and to preserve the integrity of the specimen, please follow the guidelines listed below. Please call Client Services at1-800-876-0243 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 ensure 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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