Transport of Infectious Substances Policy

Freewheelers EVS offers a free of charge emergency courier service to the NHS. We will happily carry any items that a hospital may request as long as they can physically fit on our motorcycles and they comply with our health and safety rules. Typical items that we carry include X-rays, scans, CD-ROMs, medical equipment, blood for transfusion and samples for pathology or microbiology analysis which may include blood, urine or other human tissue. Transport of biological samples in this latter category is closely controlled by international regulations enforced in UK law. Freewheelers is happy to state that it is fully compliant with the regulations on the transport of biological substances. This page is intended to give a brief explanation of the regulations and then demonstrate how Freewheelers comply with them.

The Law

UN3373 Diamond Label as fitted to Freewheelers motorcycle panniers

The law, which is designed to protect both the courier and the general public, defines two categories of infectious substances:

• Category A biological substances typically include cultures of pathogens (viruses or bacteria) which are obviously harmful to life, e.g. Smallpox, Ebola and Lassa fever. A list of the specific pathogens in Category A can be found in Appendix A of DfT document "Transport of Infectious Substances". Transportation requires a special licence, security procedures and extensive training. Freewheelers is not licensed to transport category A infectious substances.
  
  
• Category B biological substances are defined as anything which has the potential to cause infection. This includes any human tissue (blood, urine, faeces etc.) that is being transported for the purpose of analysis. Transport of Category B infectious substances is controlled by UN/ECE regulation UN3373. Within this regulation is Packing Instruction PI650, which defines specifications for the packaging used to transport infectious substances.

PI650 covers the areas of packaging strength, absorbency and labelling. It defines specifications for packaging infections substances which must include three components:

• A leakproof primary receptacle, typically made from plastic or glass, used to contain the actual sample.
• A leakproof secondary packaging containing absorbent material
• A strong, rigid outer packaging suitable for the size and weight of the samples being carried, and labelled with the words "Biological Substance, Category B" together with a diamond shape containing the word "UN3373" - as illustrated in the picture above right.

Freewheelers and UN3373

Freewheelers secondary packaging containers showing protective foam inserts, absorbent pad, screw-top lid and UN3373 labels

For samples carried by Freewheelers the three parts of the UN3373 compliant packaging include the following components:

• Primary - a glass or plastic vial in which the hospital places the sample, together wth a leakproof plastic bag.
• Secondary - a "Bio Jar" (pictured right) supplied by Air Sea Containers, containing absorbent material and padding as appropriate, and labelled with the UN3373 Diamond although this is technically only needed on the outer container.
• Outer - the motorcycle's panniers, which are lockable, rigid and burst-proof. The panniers are used to contain the Bio Jars and are labelled with the UN3373 diamond. We have undertaken tests on our panniers to ensure that they comply fully with the requirements of packing instruction PI650.

As mentioned, every Freewheelers bike carries two purpose made screw-top plastic containers to provide secondary packaging for the transport of category B biological substances i.e. blood, urine and tissue samples. As you will see from the picture on the right these containers, which are about 20cm tall and 15cm in diameter, have protective foam inserts to cushion the contents, together with a pad which can absorb liquid spills of up to 50ml. As a further safety measure the containers are labelled with the UN3373 logo, although the actual legal requirement is only that this is placed on the outer packaging i.e. our motorcycle panniers.

Freewheelers is happy to comply with these regulations as it fits with the duty of care that we have as an organisation to our volunteer riders and to members of the public as we transport potentially infectious substances.

Freewheelers riders and telephone co-ordinators will all receive training on the transport of infectious substances. This deals with the basics of the packaging, as set out on this page, together with procedures to be used in the event of any spillage or accident.

UN3373 and PI650 are legal requirements, Freewheelers asks that hospitals and other NHS institutions wishing to make use of our service, work with us to maintain 100% compliance. If we are asked to transport category B substances that will not fit into our containers, we would ask that they be supplied in packaging that is PI650 compliant in every respect including external labelling. Non compliance may mean that in extreme circumstances we refuse to carry a package.

Freewheelers is working closely with Pathology Services and other departments at the major hospitals and primary care trusts in our area to ensure that our equipment and training comply with their own standards.

Anyone with a query about how Freewheelers deal with the transport of Category B biological substances should contact Mike Belch on 07802 7897486.

Supplier

Our UN3373 certified equipment has been supplied by Air Sea Containers, who gave us help identifying the most appropriate solution. Other organisations or blood bike charities wishing to use the same equipment should contact Air Sea.