Category B Infectious Substances Packaging and Shipping Training:
Who, What, Why, and How!
June 10, 2024
Dunn County Community Services Building,
Dunn County Health Department,
3001 US Hwy 12 East, Menomonie, WI 54751
Description of Session:
Do you ship Category B infectious substances to the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene (WSLH) for testing? If so, this course is for you. Proper packaging and shipping of your samples ensures safety for all who handle the packages during transport, as well as staff at the WSLH who receive and open the packages. It also ensures the specimen(s) will be acceptable for testing and will not be rejected due to problems that can arise when specimens are improperly packaged.
The Department of Transportation (DOT) regulates the shipment of hazardous substances transported by ground couriers. Monetary fines can be given to submitters who do not follow the regulations. All who are involved in the submission of Category B infectious substances to the WSLH for testing must know how to correctly package and ship them.
This course will cover who, what, why and how to correctly package and ship Category B infectious substances to the WSLH for testing. It will also cover how to correctly label specimens and complete WSLH requisition forms.
This course will not meet the regulations for individuals seeking certification to package and ship Category A infectious substances.
Speakers:
- Joshua Kropp, BS, MLS(ASCP)CM, is a Supervisor in the Communicable Disease Division at the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene.
- Tara J.Schnell, BS, is a Biosafety Trainer in the Office of Biological Safety, EHS/FP&M at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
Program Objectives:
At the end of the session, the participant will be able to:
- Summarize the DOT regulations for packaging and shipping Category B infectious substances.
- Explain how to classify the substance you are shipping.
- Discuss best practices for correctly labeling specimens with two patient identifiers and completing WSLH requisition forms.
- Describe the proper packaging and the markings that are required on a package for shipment of a Category B infectious substance.