Instructions for Shipping Urine Specimens to CDC after a Chemical-Exposure Event

Guidance in Accordance with Packaging Instructions International Air Transport 
Authority (IATA) 650 Biological Substance Category B 

For detailed instructions see CDC's Shipping Instructions for Specimens 
Collected from People Who May Have Been Exposed to Chemical Terrorism Agents


1.  Use a gridded box or individually wrapped cups sealed with evidence tape to separate urine cups. 
    Place absorbent material in the bottom of the box and insert the cups.

2.  Use one continous piece of evidence tape to seal the gridded box or Saf-T-PakŪ inner 
    leak-proof polybag (or equivalent) containing wrapped urine cup(s). Write initials half
    on the evidence tape and half on the box or bag.

3.  Wrap the gridded box with absorbent material and secure with tape. Seal the box inside a Saf-T-PakŪ 
    inner leak-proof polybag (or equivalent). 

4.  Place the sealed Saf-T-PakŪ inner leak-proof polybag (or equivalent) inside a white TyvekŪ outer 
    envelope (or equivalent). Note: If primary receptacles do not meet the internal pressure requirement 
    of 95 kPa, use compliant secondary packaging materials.

5.  Seal the opening of this bag with a continuous piece of evidence tape. Write 
    initials half on the evidence tape and half on the envelope.

6.  Use polystyrene foam-insulated, corrugated fiberboard shipper to ship boxes to CDC. 
    Place absorbent pad in the bottom of the shipper.

7.  Place a layer of dry ice in the bottom of the shipper on top of the absorbent material. DO NOT
    use large chunks or flakes of dry ice.

8.  Place the packaged urine cups in the shipper. Use absorbent material or cushioning material 
    to minimize shifting while box is in transit. Place additional dry ice on top of samples.

9.  Place the urine shipping manifest in a sealable plastic bag and put on top of the sample boxes 
    inside the shipper. Keep your chain-of-custody documents for your files. Place lid on the shipper.

10. Secure the outer container lid with filamentous shipping tape. Place your return address 
    in the upper left-hand corner of the shipper top and put the CDC Laboratory receiving 
    address in the center.

11. Add the UN 3373 label and the words "Biological Substance Category B" on the front 
    of the shipper. UN 3373 is the code identifying the shipper's contents as "Biological 
    Substance,  Category B." 

12. Place a Class 9/UN 1845 label on the front of the shipper. This label for dry ice MUST indicate 
    the weight of dry ice (in kg.) in the shipper and the proper name (either dry ice or carbon dioxide, 
    solid).

13. Send shipment via FedEx to:
	Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
	ATTN:  Charles Dodson
	4770 Buford Hwy.
	Building 110 Loading Dock
	Atlanta, GA  30341
	(770) 488-4305

11/2006  Department of Health and Human Services
	 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention