An outpatient who is being seen by their physician for a routine yearly physical has a blood specimen collected for cholesterol screening. The specimen is being sent to a reference laboratory that is about 30 miles away. The sample will not be transported by private or contract carrier in an exclusive use vehicle. What classification should be used for appropriate packaging and labeling?
Under 49 CFR §173.134(b)(11), the DOT considers samples that are being transported for noninfectious testing that were collected from apparently healthy individuals as being unlikely to cause disease or contain pathogens. This includes:
- Blood or urine tests ordered as part of a routine medical examination on patients who are not known to have an infectious disease to monitor levels of:
- cholesterol
- blood glucose
- hormones
- Blood or urine tests to monitor liver and kidney function (again, from those not known to have an infectious disease)
- Tests conducted for insurance or employment purposes, intended to determine the presence of alcohol or drugs
- DNA tests
- Pregnancy tests
- Samples for testing other than for the presence of pathogens, including
- Biopsies for cancer detection
- Antibody titers for noninfectious diseases (e.g., PSA, ANA)
As in the previous scenario, it does need to be marked and packaged as a biohazard according to OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens requirements.
