Shipping Infectious Substances Course Overview

Healthcare facilities, laboratories, research institutions, pharmaceutical companies, and medical clinics regularly ship infectious substances, diagnostic specimens, and biological materials—yet improper packaging and shipping of these materials creates serious public health risks and regulatory violations. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) classifies infectious substances as hazardous materials requiring specialized training for anyone involved in packaging, marking, labeling, or preparing shipping documentation. With DOT and IATA enforcement actions increasing and fines for non-compliance reaching thousands of dollars per violation, proper training is critical for organizations shipping diagnostic specimens containing live cultures of pathogenic organisms, Category A infectious substances, or Category B biological substances.

This course covers the fundamentals of shipping infectious substances and diagnostic specimens in compliance with U.S. DOT and International Air Transport Association (IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulations. The course has been updated to include recent regulatory changes including HM-215D and covers all activities required when preparing hazardous materials for shipment: classification, packaging, marking, labeling, and documentation requirements for infectious substances (Category A UN 2814 and UN 2900), biological substances (Category B UN 3373), patient specimens, and dry ice (UN 1845).

What You’ll Learn

✓ Define dangerous goods and understand their classification under DOT and IATA regulations

✓ Recall the nine dangerous goods classes and three types of packing groups

✓ Classify infectious substances correctly distinguishing Category A from Category B materials

✓ Package dangerous goods according to triple packaging requirements and specifications

✓ Identify correct labeling requirements for infectious substance shipping containers

✓ Complete documentation including shipper’s declarations and shipping papers

✓ Explain training and certification requirements for hazmat employees under 49 CFR 172.704

Shipping Infectious Substances Course Content

Lesson 1: Introduction and Objectives

Regulatory framework for shipping dangerous goods, DOT jurisdiction, IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations for air shipments, definition of hazmat employee, training requirements, enforcement trends and penalties for non-compliance, course objectives, and scope of materials covered

Lesson 2: Classification of Dangerous Goods

Nine classes of dangerous goods, Division 6.2 Infectious Substances, Category A infectious substances, Category B biological substances, patient specimens, exempt human/animal specimens, cultures vs. patient specimens, proper shipping names, packing groups, Class 9 miscellaneous dangerous goods including dry ice

Lesson 3: Packaging Requirements

Triple packaging system for infectious substances, specifications for each packaging layer, absorbent material requirements, primary receptacle, secondary packaging, rigid outer packaging requirements, UN specification markings, capacity limits for packaging, differences between Category A and Category B packaging requirements, pressure differential requirements for air shipments, combination packaging with dry ice

Lesson 4: Labeling and Marking Requirements

Category A marking requirements (diamond-shaped infectious substance label, UN number, proper shipping name, 24-hour emergency contact), Category B marking requirements (UN 3373 diamond mark, proper shipping name), orientation arrows for liquid contents, shipper and consignee information, overpack requirements when multiple packages are combined, dry ice markings (Class 9 label, net weight in kg), refrigerant markings, accessibility of markings and labels

Lesson 5: Declaration Forms and Documentation Requirements

Shipper’s Declaration for Dangerous Goods, shipping papers for ground transportation, required information on shipping documents, air waybill information, signature and certification requirements, retention requirements for shipping records, chain of custody documentation, state and local permit requirements for certain infectious agents

Lesson 6: Training and Certification Requirements

49 CFR 172.704 training requirements for hazmat employees, four types of required training, training frequency, documentation of training, recertification within 90 days of regulatory changes, testing and competency evaluation requirements, employer responsibilities for training program

Who Should Take Shipping Infectious Substances

🔬 Laboratory Personnel

Lab technicians packaging and shipping diagnostic specimens and cultures

🏥 Medical Office Staff

Healthcare workers sending patient specimens to reference laboratories

💊 Pharmaceutical Employees

Personnel shipping biological samples and investigational products

🎓 University Research Staff

Researchers and lab managers shipping biological materials

📦 Shipping and Receiving

Staff who package, mark, label, or complete documentation for infectious substances

👨‍💼 Safety and Compliance Officers

Personnel responsible for dangerous goods compliance programs

Certificate & Compliance

Upon successful completion, learners receive an official certificate of completion documenting their dangerous goods training that satisfies DOT hazmat employee training requirements under 49 CFR 172.704 and IATA training requirements for shipping infectious substances.

The course includes assessments that verify understanding of dangerous goods classification, triple packaging requirements, marking and labeling specifications, and documentation completion. Certificates are generated immediately and include the specific course content and date of training for regulatory compliance records.

Supports Compliance With:

  • 49 CFR 172.704 (Hazmat employee training requirements)
  • 49 CFR Part 173 (Packaging specifications)
  • 49 CFR Part 172 (Marking, labeling, placarding)
  • IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations
  • ICAO Technical Instructions
  • WHO Guidance on regulations for the Transport of Infectious Substances
  • CDC/USDA Select Agent regulations
Shipping Infectious Substances Certificate of Completion

Choose How Your Team Learns

🖥️ Use our ELMS

Immediate access with zero setup

  • Fast & Easy Setup

  • Automatic progress tracking and reporting

  • Built-in certificate generation

  • No technical expertise required

  • Automated Course Recertification

📦 Use Your Own LMS

License SCORM files for your system

  • Integrate with your existing platform

  • Maintain centralized training records

  • Compatible with all major LMS platforms

  • Full technical specifications provided

  • Dedicated support included

Why Choose Evolve?

🎯

Expert-Developed Content

Courses feature realistic scenarios, engaging multimedia, and knowledge checks to reinforce learning. Content developed by compliance experts ensures accuracy and relevance.

📱

Accessible Anywhere

Complete training anytime, anywhere on PCs, tablets, or smartphones. Your team can learn at their own pace without disrupting daily operations or scheduling conflicts.

🎬

Engaging & Effective

Scenario-based learning & interactive elements promote retention better than lecture-style courses

📊

Trackable and Reportable

Monitor completion rates, track progress, and generate compliance reports. Maintain detailed records for audits and regulatory requirements.

💰

Transparent Pricing

Simple per-seat pricing with no hidden fees, surprise charges, or mandatory bundles. Volume discounts make compliance training affordable for organizations of any size.

⚡

Easy Implementation

Begin training your team immediately – no lengthy implementation or waiting periods

📈

Scalable Solutions

Whether training 5 employees or 500, our platform scales to meet your organization’s needs. Custom course bundles available to address your specific training requirements and budget.

✓

Consistent Quality Training

Every learner receives the same high-quality, up-to-date content. Standardized training ensures your entire organization maintains consistent compliance knowledge.

💬

Ongoing Support

Dedicated customer support available to assist with questions, technical issues, or training customization needs.

ENSURE COMPLIANT SHIPPING OF INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES

Give Your Team the Training Required by DOT and IATA Regulations

Shipping infectious substances without proper training isn’t just risky—it’s illegal and can result in civil penalties exceeding $75,000 per violation. Ensure DOT and IATA compliance with comprehensive training covering classification, triple packaging requirements, proper marking and labeling, and shipper’s declaration completion.

Trusted by hospitals, diagnostic laboratories, research institutions, and healthcare facilities shipping infectious substances

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