Transporting Biological Materials Training

1. Transporting Biological Materials Training

2. Objectives: • In this course you will learn: • Requirements for personnel training • Different regulating agencies • Proper Packing Requirements • Personal Safety • HIPAA and Confidentiality

3. Personnel Training • All employees handling Hazardous Materials/Dangerous Goods in any part of the shipping process must be trained. This includes those persons who: • perform pre-transportation functions, such as preparing paperwork and/or packages, determining the hazard class of a hazardous material, selecting a hazardous materials packaging, or filling a hazardous materials package • offer for transportation any hazardous materials or dangerous goods • work in shipping, receiving or material handling areas or loads, unloads, or handles hazardous materials or dangerous goods • marks, or otherwise represents packaging as qualified for use in the transportation of hazmat • operates a vehicle used to transport hazmat • If you are preparing the packages, paperwork or otherwise participating in shipping of hazardous materials, you are a HazMat employee.

4. Personnel Training • Hazmat training must include: • General awareness/familiarization, • Function-specific training, • Safety and security training, and • Driver training (for each hazmat employee who will operate a motor vehicle).

5. Personnel Training • How Often Must Training Occur? • Initial training: • Is to be completed within 90 days of employment or change in job function. • any new employee, or an employee who changes job functions, may perform hazmat job functions before completing training, provided the employee does so under the direct supervision of a properly trained and knowledgeable hazmat employee. • Recurrent training: • per U.S DOT, for ground shipments is required at least once every three years. The three year period begins on the actual date of training. • Relevant training received from a previous employer or source may be used to satisfy the requirements provided a current record of training is obtained from the previous employer or source.

6. Regulating Agencies • DOT - Dept. of Transportation • IATA - International Air Transport Association • USPS - United States Postal Service • OSHA - Occupational Safety and Health Administration • DOC - Dept. of Commerce • CDC - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention • USDA - United States Dept. of Agriculture

7. General Packing Requirements • When picking up or packing for shipment, the transport container must consist of the these components: • a primary receptacle • an absorbent packing material • a secondary packaging; and • a rigid outer packaging Packaging must be constructed and closed as to prevent any loss of contents that might be caused under normal conditions of transport, by vibration, or by changes in temperature, humidity or pressure.

8. Proper packing • Specimens of blood or other potentially infectious materials shall be placed in a container which prevents leakage during collection, handling, processing, storage, transport, or shipping. • Blood samples being transported to ClinImmune Labs should be placed in a cooler that is labeled with biohazard stickers and include contact numbers.

9. Personal Safety • Wear gloves for your own protection whenever handling samples-follow Universal (Standard) Precautions • Specimens should be transported inside a leak-proof and shatter-proof container, such as a cooler • In the event of a specimen “accident” or any delay, please contact ClinImmune Labs or your supervisor

10. Personal Safety cont… • In the event you are involved in a motor vehicle accident: • You should call for emergency assistance if needed • Let the emergency response team know that you are transporting potential biohazards • Notify your supervisor to contact the shipper and recipient of the sample status • Arrange for alternate transportation if you are not able to get to your destination

11. HIPAA & Patient Confidentiality • HIPAA: Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act • All information regarding patients and employees is always to be considered CONFIDENTIAL. Medical information, personal information, and private matters must be treated as such and should never be discussed with those not directly involved with the care of the patient

12. Summary • Initial personnel training must occur within 90 days of employment • Proper packaging must include a primary receptacle, an absorbent material, a secondary packaging and a rigid outer packaging • Blood samples being transported to ClinImmune Labs should be placed in a cooler • All information regarding patients and employees is always to considered confidential

13. Contacts • Lab Manager: 303-724-1313 • Lab Supervisor: 303-724-1315 • Laboratory: 303-724-1326

14. References University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center • UCDHSC Shipping Biological Materials Online Training ClinImmune Labs • SOP-Shipping Human Bodily Fluids • SOP-HIPAA ClinImmune • SOP-Confidentiality