REGULATION CONTAINERS AND PACKAGINGS MUST BE USED FOR THE TRANSPORT OF ALL INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES.

INTERNATIONAL AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION
DANGEROUS GOODS REGULATIONS 2007

Dangerous goods are articles or substances which are capable of posing significant risk to Health, Safety or to Property when transported.

Division 6.2 - Infectious substances

Infectious substances fall into two categories:

Category A: an infectious substance which is transported in a form that, when exposure to it occurs, is capable of causing permanent disability, life-threatening or fatal disease in otherwise healthy humans or animals. Indicative examples of substances that meet these criteria are available on request. These substances must be assigned to either UN 2814 (human) or UN 2900 (animal) by the shipper.

Category B: an infectious substance which does not meet the criteria for inclusion in Category A. These substances must be assigned to UN3373.

U.N. certified packagings which are tested and approved by appropriate national authorities must be used for all forms of transport. Packaging performance is established by a variety of tests which include pressure, drop and stack testing.

Infectious Substance Packaging is the term used to describe packaging that has been certified and tested to meet IATA's Packing Instructions 602 requirements for infectious substances. Once these requirements are met, the outer packaging is marked by the manufacturer with 'UN 4G/Class 6.2' and other identifying information.

Diagnostic Specimens (Biological Substance, Category B) must be shipped in accordance with IATA Packing Instructions 650. These must be marked with the correct UN3373 symbol.

The COMPLETE assembled packaging as supplied must be used, not just the outer packaging.