transport & disposal of specimen containers & specimens policy

Incidents and accidents involving the Pathology van are also reported to thePathology Department.All incidents and accidents are investigated.15 REGULATORY REQUIREMENTSSpecimen transport complies with the Transport of Infectious Substances, 2004,Department of Communicable Disease, Surveillance and Response, WorldHealth Organisation. Specimen containers are packaged to comply withChemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations 2002,asamended16 CLASSIFICATION OF INFECTIOUS MATERIALThe classification UN3373 “Biological Specimens – Category B” covers allspecimens, which are sent to laboratories except those which might containGroup 4 biological agents. As such they must be packaged under packaginginstructions P650. This requires a leak proof primary receptacle (universal, bloodvial, etc) and leak proof secondary packaging such as a self-sealing plastic bag.Liquid specimens must have absorbent material between the primary andsecondary containers sufficient to absorb the entire contents.The classification UN3373 is based on the small quantity of infectious materiallikely to be present in a diagnostic specimen. Bacterial cultures sent from onelaboratory to another contain much more hazardous material and should beclassified as UN2814 “Infectious substance affecting humans” and must bepackaged under packaging instructions P620.Packaging instructions P650 and P620 are outlined in annex 1 and annex 2Transport of Infectious Substances, 2004, Department of CommunicableDisease, Surveillance and Response, World Health Organisation.Note additional requirement for labelling of specimens in formaldehyde. (Section 12above and Appendix 1 below.)17 DISPOSAL OF WASTE SPECIMENS AND OTHERBIOLOGICAL MATERIALSA local standard operating procedure for disposal of waste specimens should beagreed between laboratory managers, theatre managers and the local Director ofFacilities.Essential requirements are:1. All materials should be kept secure until disposal.2. Weight and size restrictions, as required by Manual Handling OperationsRegulations, must be obeyed.Specimen Transport Page 20 of 29