Instructions for Packaging Clinical Medicine Packaging Specimens

Please follow these instructions for packaging, marking, and labeling clinical specimens.

Packaging requirements for Medicine Packaging

This medicine packaging guide describes the requirements for shipping packages. In addition, all shipments must comply with local, federal, and state laws regarding package packaging, marking, and labeling. Blood, urine, and other liquid specimens containing or likely to contain infectious substances should be shipped in accordance with government regulations as well as IATA (International Air Transport Association) and ICAO (International Air Transport Association) regulations. ‘International Civil Aviation).

For the purposes of this clinical packaging guide, clinical specimens are generally defined as non-infectious human or animal material including, but not limited to, excretions, secretions, tissues, tissue fluids, blood samples, and FDA approved blood-based pharmaceuticals.

General packing requirements

The packaging of liquid clinical specimens should have four layers.
1. Internal primary sealed container. Use leak-proof containers for liquid samples, with a positive closure such as a screw-on, snap-on, or snap-on lid, sealed with  duct tape  for added sealing. If you place more than one fragile primary receptacle in a single secondary receptacle, they must be wrapped individually or separately to prevent contact between them.
2. Absorbent materials. Place absorbent material between the primary and secondary receptacles in sufficient quantity to absorb the entire contents of all primary receptacles. Permitted absorbent materials include cellulose padding materials, cotton balls, super-absorbent wrappers, and paper towels.
3. Internal secondary sealed container. Use a sealed, leak-proof plastic bag, plastic container, or container with a screw-on lid.
4. Robust outer packaging. Use rigid outer packaging of corrugated fiberboard, wood, metal or plastic, sized to suit the contents. Boxes made of chipboard or chipboard are not permitted as outer packaging.

Additional packaging requirements  for non-infectious clinical specimens

To ensure safe delivery of your clinical specimen shipments, follow these additional instructions. Marking requirements for liquid clinical samples. Include a marking on the packaging that clearly identifies the shipment, if applicable, and complies with IATA and ICAO regulations. At your convenience, the packaging markings can also take the form of a label.

Dry samples
While non-infectious samples of dried blood, tissues, saliva and hair are not considered dangerous goods and are not subject to related regulations, they do require special compliant packaging. Wrap dried blood samples placed on cushions or absorbent plates in airtight plastic bags and ship in The Custom Packaging Boxes or flexible plastic envelope, padded or cardboard envelope, or 15 cm cardboard mailbox x 20 cm (6 “x 8”) minimum. Place samples on glass or plastic coverslips on cushioning material and ship in a sturdy outer container.
CAUTION: If the dry sample is placed in a container with preservative liquid then the minimum liquid packaging standards must be followed.

Packaging restrictions

• Foam boxes , plastic bags and paper envelopes are not permitted external containers. • Shipments marked or labeled 6.2 (infectious substances) and shipments containing dry ice cannot be shipped using packaging …