Explore UAB

Colleges & Schools

Environmental Health and Safety Facilities Division

Contact EH&S

(205) 934-2487

Contact EH&S

(205) 934-2487

EH&S Shipping Classification Flowchart

Answer the questions in flowchart to determine the classification and regulatory requirements for your shipping sample or specimen. Personnel should take required training courses at UAB Campus Learning System before shipping samples.

Invalid Input

An Infectious substance is a material known or reasonably expected to contain a pathogen that causes any type of disease in humans and/or animals. Infectious substance falls under dangerous goods shipping regulations.

Examples:
Micro Organisms (Including Bacteria, Viruses, Rickettsia, Parasites, Toxins, Prions, Fungi) which can cause disease in humans and/or animals. Replication competent Viral Vectors etc.,
 
Material from Humans or Animals (Not Inactivated).

Note: Plant pathogens are not considered infectious substances by the transportation regulations. 
Refer USDA/APHIS website for more information: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/importexport/SA_Plants

If you have questions, contact EH&S at Email: biosafety@uab.edu 
Invalid Input

Refer: https://www.iata.org/contentassets/b08040a138dc4442a4f066e6fb99fe2a/dgr-62-en-3.6.2.pdf

Invalid Input

Refer: https://www.iata.org/contentassets/b08040a138dc4442a4f066e6fb99fe2a/dgr-62-en-3.6.2.pdf

Invalid Input

  • Non-Infectious biological materials from healthy humans or animals. Examples include non-infectious cells, tissue culture, blood, or plasma, DNA, RNA, or other genetic elements. (Professional judgment must be made based on the history of the sample. If you suspect the specimen may contain an infectious substance; it must be shipped accordingly.)
  • Samples that DO NOT contain pathogenic Micro-Organisms and/or Infectious Substances that are likely to cause disease in humans and/or animals. 
  • Micro-Organisms and/or Infectious Substances that have been neutralized or inactivated so that they no longer pose a health risk.

If you have questions, contact EH&S at Email: biosafety@uab.edu

Invalid Input

Invalid Input

Invalid Input

Exempt Human or Animal samples are specimens in which pathogen is NOT LIKELY present.

Note: To be "Exempt" professional judgement needs to be made based on the history of specimen before shipping. If you're unable to make a professional judgement on the presence of pathogen in specimen, don’t use the “exempt” classification, instead use Category B unless specimen contains a pathogen that belongs to Category A.

Examples of Exempt Human or Animal specimen:
Dried blood spots; Fecal occult blood screening tests; 
Blood; Blood components; Urine; Organs; Tissues for the purpose of testing or transfusion or transplantation (IATA 3.6.2.2.3.5).
https://www.iata.org/contentassets/b08040a138dc4442a4f066e6fb99fe2a/dgr-64-en-3.6.2.pdf

The OSHA bloodborne pathogen standard requires specimens of blood or OPIM to be placed in a container which prevents leakage during transport and/or shipping.

If you have questions, contact EH&S at Email: biosafety@uab.edu

Ship your specimen as Category A, UN2814 Infectious Substance, Affecting Humans

Your sample is classified as:
Category A, UN2814 Infectious Substance, Affecting Humans
Class 6.2 Hazard Label; Packing Instructions 620 
UN1845 (If shipping samples in Dry Ice)

Required Training at UAB Campus Learning System
https://www.uab.edu/ehs/training/staff-learning
1. Shipping Infectious Substances, Category A (ID: E-71KDVJ)
2. Basic Biosafety Training (ID: E-5VNQVM)
If Applicable: 
3. Bloodborne Pathogens Training (ID: E-E04XR0), If shipping infectious patient specimens.
4. Shipping with Dry Ice (ID: E-P0WZ0J)
For More Information:
https://www.uab.edu/ehs/bio202-shipping-biological-substances-category-a

Ship your specimen as Category B, UN3373 Biological Substance

Infectious substance which does not meet the criteria for inclusion in Category A should be assigned Category B. 

Your sample is classified as:
Category B, UN3373 Biological Substance
Class 6.2 Hazard Label; Packing Instructions 650
UN1845 (If shipping samples in Dry Ice)

Required Training at UAB Campus Learning System
https://www.uab.edu/ehs/training/staff-learning
1. Shipping Biological Substance, Category B (ID: E-E1LZV4)
2. Basic Biosafety Training (ID: E-5VNQVM)
If Applicable: 
3. Bloodborne Pathogens Training (ID: E-E04XR0), If shipping infectious patient specimens.
4. Shipping with Dry Ice (ID: E-P0WZ0J)
For More Information:
https://www.uab.edu/ehs/bio202-shipping-biological-substances-category-a
Ship your specimen as UN3245, GMO/GMMO

Note: Non-pathogenic Genetically Modified Organisms or Microorganisms that do not meet either Category A, Infectious Substances or Category B, Biological Substances should be shipped as UN3245. 

Your GMO/GMMO sample is classified as:
UN3245 Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) or 
UN3245 Genetically Modified Microorganisms (GMMO)
Class 9, Hazard Label; Packing Instructions 959
UN1845 (If shipping samples in Dry Ice)

Required Training at UAB Campus Learning System
https://www.uab.edu/ehs/training/staff-learning
1. Shipping Biological Substance, Category B (ID: E-E1LZV4)
2. Basic Biosafety Training (ID: E-5VNQVM)
If Applicable:
3. Shipping with Dry Ice (ID: E-P0WZ0J)
For More Information:
https://www.uab.edu/ehs/bio202-shipping-biological-substances-category-a
If you have questions, contact EH&S at Email: biosafety@uab.edu
Ship your specimen as Category A, UN2900 Infectious Substance, Affecting Animals

Your sample is classified as:
Category A, UN2900 Infectious Substance, Affecting Animals
Class 6.2 Hazard Label; Packing Instructions 620 
UN1845 (If shipping samples in Dry Ice)

Required Training at UAB Campus Learning System
https://www.uab.edu/ehs/training/staff-learning
1. Shipping Infectious Substances, Category A (ID: E-71KDVJ)
2. Basic Biosafety Training (ID: E-5VNQVM)
If Applicable: 
3. Bloodborne Pathogens Training (ID: E-E04XR0), If shipping infectious patient specimens.
4. Shipping with Dry Ice (ID: E-P0WZ0J)
For More Information:
https://www.uab.edu/ehs/bio202-shipping-biological-substances-category-a
Ship as Exempt Human or Animal specimen

Note: Standard packing requirements are necessary before shipping Exempt samples. Personnel are required to take appropriate training. 

Your Sample is classified as Exempt:
Exempt Human or Animal Specimens do not have a UN Number
UN1845 (If shipping samples in Dry Ice)

Required Training at UAB Campus Learning System
https://www.uab.edu/ehs/training/staff-learning
1. Shipping Biological Substance, Category B (ID: E-E1LZV4)
2. Basic Biosafety Training (ID: E-5VNQVM)
If Applicable: 
3. Bloodborne Pathogens Training (ID: E-E04XR0), If shipping infectious patient specimens.
4. Shipping with Dry Ice (ID: E-P0WZ0J)
For More Information:
https://www.uab.edu/ehs/bio202-shipping-biological-substances-category-a

If you have questions, contact EH&S at Email: biosafety@uab.edu 
Your sample is "NOT REGULATED"

The standard recommended packing procedure are needed when shipping the samples.

If you have questions, contact EH&S at Email: biosafety@uab.edu
Contact EH&S to discuss about the type of shipping sample.

Email: biosafety@uab.edu
Ship your specimen as Category B, UN3373 Biological Substance

Infectious substance which does not meet the criteria for inclusion in Category A should be assigned Category B. 

Your sample is classified as:
Category B, UN3373 Biological Substance
Class 6.2 Hazard Label; Packing Instructions 650
UN1845 (If shipping samples in Dry Ice)

Required Training at UAB Campus Learning System
https://www.uab.edu/ehs/training/staff-learning
1. Shipping Biological Substance, Category B (ID: E-E1LZV4)
2. Basic Biosafety Training (ID: E-5VNQVM)
If Applicable: 
3. Bloodborne Pathogens Training (ID: E-E04XR0), If shipping infectious patient specimens.
4. Shipping with Dry Ice (ID: E-P0WZ0J)
For More Information:
https://www.uab.edu/ehs/bio202-shipping-biological-substances-category-a