Postal Information and Courses from MediaLab, Inc.
These are the MediaLab courses that cover Postal and links to relevant pages within the course.
Learn more about laboratory continuing education for medical technologists to earn CE credit for AMT, ASCP, NCA, and state license renewal and recertification. Or get information about laboratory safety and compliance courses that deliver cost-effective OSHA safety training and continuing education to your laboratory's employees.
| Packaging Considerations Several things need to be considered when you are determining how to package a laboratory specimen. These considerations include: Type of specimen Solid Liquid Classification Category A Category B Exempt Size of the specimen Temperature at which the specimen must be held during shipping Will dry ice be included in the package? The specimen components Does the specimen contain a preservative, such as formalin, that may be regulated? Mode of transportation Commercial ground Passenger air Cargo air Postal service Private or contract carrier using exclusive use motor vehicle | View Page |
| Requirements for Packages Containing Category A Substances The primary receptacle that contains a category A substance that will be sent at ambient temperature must be glass, plastic, or metal. A method must be employed to ensure that the receptacle is leakproof or siftproof (if the specimen is a dry particulate material). Acceptable methods include: heat sealing, using a skirted stopper or metal crimp seal. If screw caps are used, they must be secured by tape, paraffin sealing tape, manufactured locking closure, or similar methods. The completed package must be able to survive a drop test of 35 ft. A package containing category A substances that will be sent by cargo aircraft must be limited to no more than 4L or 4 kg. This excludes ice, dry ice, or liquid nitrogen, if any of these are used as refrigerants.If the package will be sent on a passenger aircraft, the quantity cannot exceed 50 mL or 50 gm. If a category A specimen exceeds 50 mL or 50 gm, it must be labeled as "Cargo aircraft only." Category A substances cannot be mailed via the United States Postal Service (USPS). | View Page |