For the packaging of pathological specimens
The current (Royal Mail) regulations (as at December 1998) state:
Prohibited & Restricted Goods
The following are permitted to post pathological specimens:
- Recognised laboratories or institutions
- Qualified medical or veterinary practitioners
- Registered dentists
- Registered osteopaths
- Registered nurses
Members of the public are only permitted to post pathological specimens at the specific request of one of the above, and only with written permission from the Royal Mail. The person or organisation making the request should also either supply appropriate packaging or a description of the packaging they propose to use (see Packing).
Specimens known or suspected to contain Hazard Group 4 pathogens cannot be sent by post by anyone.
See Packing for specific mailing preparation instructions.
Packing
These must always be sent in packaging that complies with
Packing Instructions 650 available from the DTI. The total sample volume/mass in
any parcel shall not exceed 50ml/g.
see also:
www.hse.gov.uk/cdg/pdf/infect-subs.pdf
Diagnostic specimens, assigned to UN 3373, are human or animal materials that are being transported only for the purpose of diagnosis or investigation. Such materials include excreta, blood and its components, as well as other tissues and fluids. Diagnostic specimens do not include live infected animals.
Packaging requirements are at packing instruction P 650.
If the source (the patient) is known to have a serious disease that can be readily transmitted and for which effective treatment and preventative measures are not usually available, then the substance must be assigned UN 2814 or UN 2900, as appropriate.
Please note
In the UK, the HSE (Health and Safety Executive) is the enforcement authority for many aspects of the Carriage Regulations, but note that DfT (the Departmernt for Transport) is the "competent authority" for most purposes.
The DfT has published documents listing the changes for both carriage by road (ADR) and carriage by rail (RID), becoming effective on 1st January 2007.
Packing instruction P650 is to be considerably modified.
RID - 1 January 2007 edition (PDF 381 Kb)
ADR - 1 January 2007 edition (PDF 905 Kb)
Also:
You should refer to the current text of ADR to be sure that you have classified your goods correctly, have taken account of any special provisions and have packaged the goods in accordance with the relevant packing instructions.
http://www.unece.org/trans/danger/publi/adr/adr2005/05ContentsE.html
The current version of the ADR was published in January 2005
The next version is due in January 2007
http://www.unece.org/trans/danger/publi/adr/pubdet.htm
also:
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/cdg.pdf
http://www.hse.gov.uk/cdg/manual/regenvirnment.htm
www.hpa.org.uk/cfi/dgi/FSML_user_manual_Sep06.pdf
For advice on sending larger specimens and non-standard packaging, customers should contact their local Royal Mail Customer Service Centre on 0345 740 740.