Royal Mail regulations for inland postage of infectious substances
change from 1 January 1999 to comply with IATA regulations (much
inland post now goes by air), and require UN602 packaging
(essentially specimen tube inside a tube inside a 'torpedo' inside a
marked cardboard box; total cost stlg4-stlg5 + stlg1 postage). ALL DIAGNOSTIC
SPECIMENS WILL BE CLASSIFIED AS INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES, and the
previous regulations for packaging pathological specimens no longer
apply. The Royal Mail circular of mid-December to all doctors did not
make this fully clear, but laboratories (and their customers!) need
to be aware of the regulations - ignoring them may lead to
prosecution.
The good news is that neither individual Registration of packages nor
48 hours' notice of shipment are required, and there is a 'transition
period'. We understand that the regulations are unlikely to be
enforced fully until April (with a request for extension submitted),
which is fortunate as there seems to be a shortage of UN602
containers. At present all diagnostic specimens (INCLUDING those for
screening etc, which are less restricted under IATA rules) must be
classified as infectious, though we understand that a committee is
being formed to consider exemption requests.
What about EQA specimens? Most are tested to the same level as blood
for transfusion, and these are properly classified as non-infectious
biological products, which are NOT Dangerous Goods and therefore not
restricted under UN/IATA rules. Unfortunately the present Royal Mail
regulations also class these (including pregnancy test kits!) as
"infectious substances" and require UN602 packaging. UK NEQAS is
preparing a case for exemption on behalf of all EQASs, with CPA
support, to avoid this inappropriate wastage of scarce NHS
resources.
I hope these comments are helpful.
Dr David Bullock
Director, Wolfson EQA Laboratory
P O Box 3909, Birmingham B15 2UE, U K
FAX: 0121 414 1179
Phone: 0121 414 7300
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