If you answered No to "Does it meet the definition of a Category A substance?," you then have to consult the exceptions listed in 49 CFR §173.134(b) that free the substance from the requirements of Division 6.2 materials. This will help you determine if the specimen is unlikely to cause disease or if there is only a minimal likelihood that pathogens are present.
Under
Exception 10, an exclusive use vehicle is a motor vehicle (private or contract carrier) that is used exclusively for the transport of patient specimens. However, other items are allowed to be transported with these materials if they are protected against contamination. Items that can be transported along with patient specimens in an exclusive use vehicle include:
- Medical equipment
- Other laboratory specimens
- Medical records
Under
Exception 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)
If you answer
Yes to the question, meaning that your specimen falls under one of the exceptions listed in 49 CFR §173.134(b), then the substance is not subject to the requirements as Division 6.2 material.
