In The Name of God The Merciful

Transporting Infectious Transporting Infectious SubstancesSubstances

Dr. Rana Amini Dr. Rana Amini Reference Health LaboratoryReference Health Laboratory

Sender

ReceiverEnvironment

GeneralPopulation

Carrier

ShipperShipper

Safety is your responsibility, today more than ever!

The BasisThe Basis

• Proper Proper • PackagingPackaging• PackingPacking• LabelingLabeling• MarkingMarking• DocumentationDocumentation

Highest level of Safety in Transportation

The needed speed in Transportation

Highest level of Protection

• UN model regulationsUN model regulations• ICAOICAO• IATAIATA• WHOWHO

• National restrictions and National restrictions and regulationsregulations

Mode of transportMode of transport

• Air (The most restrict)Air (The most restrict)• RailRail• Road Road • MarineMarine

RoadRoad

• Local surface transportLocal surface transport• Transport of specimen fromTransport of specimen from

• doctor’s office to labdoctor’s office to lab• Hospital to diagnostic labHospital to diagnostic lab• One lab to anotherOne lab to another

Countries are encouraged to adopt the provisional UN model regulations In all National legislations for road transport.

PrinciplePrinciple

• The principle of transport is that The principle of transport is that the material should not have any the material should not have any possibility of escaping from the possibility of escaping from the package under normal conditions package under normal conditions of transport.of transport.

Hazard ClassesHazard Classes

1)1) ExplosivesExplosives2)2) GasesGases3)3) Flammable LiquidsFlammable Liquids4)4) Flammable solidsFlammable solids5)5) Oxidizing SubstancesOxidizing Substances6)6) Toxic and infectious substances and organic Toxic and infectious substances and organic

peroxideperoxide1)1) Division 6.1-Toxic substancesDivision 6.1-Toxic substances2)2) Division 6.2-Infectious substancesDivision 6.2-Infectious substances

7)7) Radioactive MaterialRadioactive Material8)8) CorrosivesCorrosives9)9) MiscellaneousMiscellaneous

Infectious substanceInfectious substance

• Are substances which are known or Are substances which are known or are reasonably expected to contain are reasonably expected to contain pathogens.pathogens.

• Pathogens are : defined as Pathogens are : defined as microorganisms( including microorganisms( including bacteria, viruses, rickettsiae, bacteria, viruses, rickettsiae, parasites, fungi) and even prions.parasites, fungi) and even prions.

Exceptions:Exceptions:

• Dried blood spot, collected by applying a Dried blood spot, collected by applying a drop of blood onto absorbent materialdrop of blood onto absorbent material

• Faecal occult blood screening test Faecal occult blood screening test • Blood or blood components to be used Blood or blood components to be used

for transfusionfor transfusion• Tissue or organs to be used for Tissue or organs to be used for

transplantationtransplantation• Neutralized or inactivated pathogensNeutralized or inactivated pathogens• Non-pathogen microorganismsNon-pathogen microorganisms• ……

Basic triple Packaging SystemBasic triple Packaging System

Basic triple Packaging SystemBasic triple Packaging System

• Primary ReceptaclePrimary Receptacle• Secondary PackagingSecondary Packaging• Outer PackagingOuter Packaging

Primary ReceptaclesPrimary Receptacles

• Must be water –tight (leak proof). Must be water –tight (leak proof). Glass, metal or plastic.Glass, metal or plastic.

• A water-tight , leak proof seal must A water-tight , leak proof seal must be used, caps must be secured by be used, caps must be secured by means such as paraffin sealing tapemeans such as paraffin sealing tape

• Note: for lyophilized substances Note: for lyophilized substances either flame sealed glass ampoules either flame sealed glass ampoules or rubber-stoppered glass vials with or rubber-stoppered glass vials with metal sealmetal seal

Secondary PackagingSecondary Packaging

• Water-tightWater-tight• Contain sufficient absorbent Contain sufficient absorbent

material to absorb the entire material to absorb the entire contentcontent

• Multiple primary receptacles may Multiple primary receptacles may either be wrapped individually or either be wrapped individually or separated to prevent conatct separated to prevent conatct between the conatiners.between the conatiners.

Outer PackagingOuter Packaging

• Must be rigidMust be rigid• Withstand several specific testsWithstand several specific tests• Resistant to waterResistant to water

Marking and labelingMarking and labeling

• DurableDurable• On the external surfaceOn the external surface• Readily visibleReadily visible• Able to withstand weather Able to withstand weather

exposureexposure• Proper name , address and Proper name , address and

telephone of the shippertelephone of the shipper

TrainingTraining

FamiliarizationFamiliarization

Job specificJob specific

www.iata.orgwww.iata.org

Bio-securityBio-security

Refers to institutuional and Refers to institutuional and personal security measures personal security measures

designed to prevent the loss, designed to prevent the loss, theft, misuse or intentional theft, misuse or intentional release of pathogens and release of pathogens and

toxinstoxins

Biosafety and Biosafety and BiosecurityBiosecurity

Appropriate policies and measures applied to minimize relevant biological risks

(Minimize the risks don’t waste time debating the definitions)

Risk assessment and PolicyRisk assessment and PolicyFor ex. Polio For ex. Polio

Biological threats Biological threats to:to:

•Agriculture, fisheries & forestsAgriculture, fisheries & forests

•Natural resources Natural resources

•International and domestic tradeInternational and domestic trade

•Tourism & LifestyleTourism & Lifestyle

•Economy & infrastructureEconomy & infrastructure

•Public health & safetyPublic health & safety

•Agriculture, fisheries & forestsAgriculture, fisheries & forests

•Natural resources Natural resources

•International and domestic tradeInternational and domestic trade

•Tourism & LifestyleTourism & Lifestyle

•Economy & infrastructureEconomy & infrastructure

•Public health & safetyPublic health & safety

Avian InfleuenzaAvian Infleuenza

Bio-security programBio-security program

• Comprehensive programComprehensive program• Cover the whole field of activitiesCover the whole field of activities• An updated inventoryAn updated inventory• Level of accessLevel of access• Description of useDescription of use• Documentation of any transfersDocumentation of any transfers

Risk management approachRisk management approachRisk management approachRisk management approachA modern risk management framework (SA/SNZ 1999)

Establish the context

Identify risks

Analyse risks

Treat risks

Mon

itor

and

Rev

iew

Evaluate risks

International risk management methods can be applied to all areas of economies, community and

environment

Com

mun

icat

ean

dC

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Training Training Identifying the rationale of these Identifying the rationale of these

precautionsprecautions