How do I know if my clinical shipment needs to be declared as infectious or not?
The following is the new criteria used by International Air Transport Association (IATA) and International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO) in determining whether a shipment must be declared as an infectious substance or as a diagnostic specimen.

Risk Groups

Pathogens must be classified in Division 6.2 based on their allocation to one of four risk groups based on the World Health Organization (WHO) Laboratory Biosafety Manual. A risk group is characterized by the pathogenicity of the organism, the mode and relative ease of transmission, the degree of risk to both an individual and community, and the reversibility of the disease through the availability of known and effective preventative agents and treatment.

(a) Risk Group 4 (high individual and community risk): a pathogen that usually causes serious human or animal disease and that can be readily transmitted from one individual to another, directly or indirectly, and for which effective treatment and preventative measures are not usually available.

(b) Risk Group 3 (high individual risk and low community risk): a pathogen that usually causes serious human or animal disease but does not ordinarily spread from one infected individual to another, and for which effective treatment and preventative measures are available.

(c) Risk Group 2 (moderate individual risk and low community risk): a pathogen that can causes human or animal disease but is unlikely to be a serious hazard, and, while capable of causing serious infection on exposure, for which there are effective treatment and preventative measures available and the risk of spread infection is limited.

(d) Risk Group 1 (low individual and low community): includes micro-organisms that are unlikely to cause human or animal disease. Substances containing only such micro-organisms are not considered infectious substances.

Diagnostic Specimens are any human or animal material including, but not limited to, excreta, secreta, blood and its components, tissue and tissue fluids being transported for diagnostic or investigational purposes, but excluding live infected animals. Diagnostic specimens, including those taken from apparently healthy individuals, may contain pathogens that meet the criteria for risk groups 1, 2, 3 or 4. Pathogens are defined as micro-organisms (including bacteria, viruses, rickettsiae, parasites, fungi) and other agents such as prions, that can cause disease in humans or animals. Pathogens are carried in blood, on the skin, in saliva or faeces. Specimens containing risk group 1 pathogens are not regulated. Specimens containing risk group 4 pathogens must be shipped as infectious substances. Specimens containing pathogens of risk group 2 or 3 transported for diagnostic or investigational purposes must be shipped as diagnostic specimens.

Blood which has been collected for the purpose of blood transfusion or for the preparation of blood products, and blood products and any tissues or organs intended for use in transplants are not regulated.


What is the Maximum amount of specimens I can ship by passenger aircraft?

Infectious Substances:

-Primary receptacles cannot exceed 50ml .

-Outer packaging cannot exceed 4L.

Special Provision A81 of the Dangerous Goods Regulations allows packages containing body fluids known to contain or suspected of containing infectious substances to exceed the 50 mL limit on passenger aircraft when in primary receptacles not exceeding 1000 mL and outer packaging not exceeding 4L. This Special Provision is not recognized by all airlines and does not include Risk Group 4 pathogens.

Diagnostic Specimens:

-The maximum quantity in a primary receptacle is 500ml.

-The maximum quantity for outer packaging is 4L.

Can QuickSTAT provide packaging and ice?

One of the many value added services we provide for our clients, is the ability to provide quality packaging and gel packs or dry ice anywhere in the world.

Can QuickSTAT replenish ice in transit?

Standard operating procedures are that we will check the amount of dry ice at each point in transit. Should the shipment require additional ice to get the shipment to its destination in a frozen state, we will add the dry ice without hesitation. With frozen gel packs, we will arrange to have partially thawed gel packs replaced with frozen gel packs to ensure a refrigerator temperature throughout transit. If you prefer that your shipment not be checked while in transit, then we will simply move your shipment on a door to door basis with speed and reliability unmatched in the industry. At QuickStat, we guarantee that if we pick up your shipment frozen, it stays frozen. If picked up in a refrigerated state, it remains at refrigerated temperatures.

How can we avoid having shipments held up in customs?

Through a combination of experience and preparation we take the necessary steps to ensure that your shipment will not be met with any unexpected delays. Our Customer Service Staff will ask that you fax to us copies of your export documents before we take possession of your package. We will immediately fax these documents to our overseas offices so that they can check with customs to ensure that all documents required to clear customs are in place "BEFORE" the shipment arrives