Transporting Biological Materials Training

1
Transporting Biological Materials Training
2
Objectives

• In this course you will learn
• Requirements for personnel training
• Different regulating agencies
• Proper Packing Requirements
• Personal Safety
• HIPAA and Confidentiality

3
Personnel Training

• All employees handling Hazardous
  Materials/Dangerous Goods in any part of the
  shipping process must be trained. This includes
  those persons who
• perform pre-transportation functions, such as
  preparing paperwork and/or packages, determining
  the hazard class of a hazardous material,
  selecting a hazardous materials packaging, or
  filling a hazardous materials package
• offer for transportation any hazardous materials
  or dangerous goods
• work in shipping, receiving or material handling
  areas or loads, unloads, or handles hazardous
  materials or dangerous goods
• marks, or otherwise represents packaging as
  qualified for use in the transportation of hazmat
  
• operates a vehicle used to transport hazmat
• If you are preparing the packages, paperwork or
  otherwise participating in shipping of hazardous
  materials, you are a HazMat employee.

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Personnel Training

• Hazmat training must include
• General awareness/familiarization,
• Function-specific training,
• Safety and security training, and
• Driver training (for each hazmat employee who
  will operate a motor vehicle).

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Personnel Training

• How Often Must Training Occur?
• Initial training
• Is to be completed within 90 days of employment
  or change in job function.
• any new employee, or an employee who changes job
  functions, may perform hazmat job functions
  before completing training, provided the employee
  does so under the direct supervision of a
  properly trained and knowledgeable hazmat
  employee.
• Recurrent training
• per U.S DOT, for ground shipments is required at
  least once every three years. The three year
  period begins on the actual date of training.
• Relevant training received from a previous
  employer or source may be used to satisfy the
  requirements provided a current record of
  training is obtained from the previous employer
  or source.

6
Regulating Agencies

• DOT - Dept. of Transportation
• IATA - International Air Transport Association
• USPS - United States Postal Service
• OSHA - Occupational Safety and Health
  Administration
• DOC - Dept. of Commerce
• CDC - Centers for Disease Control and
  Prevention
• USDA - United States Dept. of Agriculture

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General Packing Requirements

• When picking up or packing for shipment, the
  transport container must consist of the these
  components
• a primary receptacle
• an absorbent packing material
• a secondary packaging and
• a rigid outer packaging
• Packaging must be constructed and closed as to
  prevent any loss of contents that might be caused
  under normal conditions of transport, by
  vibration, or by changes in temperature, humidity
  or pressure.

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Proper packing

• Specimens of blood or other potentially
  infectious materials shall be placed in a
  container which prevents leakage during
  collection, handling, processing, storage,
  transport, or shipping.
• Blood samples being transported to ClinImmune
  Labs should be placed in a cooler that is labeled
  with biohazard stickers and include contact
  numbers.

9
Personal Safety

• Wear gloves for your own protection whenever
  handling samples-follow Universal (Standard)
  Precautions
• Specimens should be transported inside a
  leak-proof and shatter-proof container, such as a
  cooler
• In the event of a specimen accident or any
  delay, please contact ClinImmune Labs or your
  supervisor

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Personal Safety cont

• In the event you are involved in a motor vehicle
  accident
• You should call for emergency assistance if
  needed
• Let the emergency response team know that you are
  transporting potential biohazards
• Notify your supervisor to contact the shipper and
  recipient of the sample status
• Arrange for alternate transportation if you are
  not able to get to your destination

11
HIPAA Patient Confidentiality

• HIPAA Health Insurance Portability and
  Accountability Act
• All information regarding patients and employees
  is always to be considered CONFIDENTIAL. Medical
  information, personal information, and private
  matters must be treated as such and should never
  be discussed with those not directly involved
  with the care of the patient

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Summary

• Initial personnel training must occur within 90
  days of employment
• Proper packaging must include a primary
  receptacle, an absorbent material, a secondary
  packaging and a rigid outer packaging
• Blood samples being transported to ClinImmune
  Labs should be placed in a cooler
• All information regarding patients and employees
  is always to considered confidential

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Contacts

• Lab Manager 303-724-1313
• Lab Supervisor 303-724-1315
• Laboratory 303-724-1326

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References

• University of Colorado at Denver and Health
  Sciences Center
• UCDHSC Shipping Biological Materials Online
  Training
• ClinImmune Labs
• SOP-Shipping Human Bodily Fluids
• SOP-HIPAA ClinImmune
• SOP-Confidentiality