The transportation of human or animal material intended for diagnostic or research purposes is regulated by the ADR, a UN document that specifies how such materials must be classified, packaged and transported.
Are you transporting biological substances safely and legally?
The UN guidelines specify how substances must be classified and packaged for transportation. According to these guidelines, biological substances classified as UN3373 category b must be packed and transported in accordance with packing instruction P650.
What does UN3373 mean?
When deciding how to prepare dangerous goods for transportation, it must first be decided to which UN number the dangerous goods belong.
There are four UN numbers that are used to classify infectious or biological substances:
UN2814 - Infectious substances, dangerous to humans
UN2900 Contagious substances, dangerous only for animals
UN3291 - Clinical waste
UN3373 - Biological substances
UN3373 Medical bags
What does P650 mean?
If a biological substance has been classified as UN3373, it must be packed for transportation in accordance with a set of guidelines known as P650 or packing instruction 650. This is a list of requirements for the quality and construction of packaging used for transportation.
Packing Instruction 650 is defined in the ADR, the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road. You can find the complete text here here. Excerpts can be found below.
How can Versapak's medical transport bags help to comply with the guidelines?
Working closely with medical transport staff and in consultation with the Department for Transport (DfT), Versapak has developed a range of medical bags that are fully compliant with Packing Instruction 650 whilst being practical and user friendly.
Since the launch of the approved range, Versapak has supplied bags to around two thirds of NHS hospitals, private clinics and hospitals.
The table below shows extracts from ADR packing instruction P650 relating to outer packaging and explains how Versapak's medical transport bags help to meet the guidelines of packing instruction 650.
Requirements of packing instruction 650
"The packaging must be of good quality and capable of withstanding the shocks and stresses normally encountered during transportation..."
Versapak medical bags are made from high-quality, weatherproof and tear-resistant material with extra strong seams. Integrated padding and reinforcements protect the contents.
Requirements of packing instruction 650
"The packaging must be designed and closed in such a way as to prevent loss of the contents, which can occur under normal transportation conditions due to shocks or changes in temperature, humidity or pressure."
A durable zipper holds the lid of the bag in place. A tamper-evident closure compartment can be sealed with a Versapak seal - this seal prevents the bag from being opened accidentally or without authorization.
Requirements of packing instruction 650
"The packaging must consist of at least three components:
(a) a primary packaging
(b) secondary packaging
(c) secondary packaging
The medical transport bag from Versapak is the outer packaging. We also offer leak-proof secondary packaging.
Requirements of packing instruction 650
"...whereby either the secondary packaging or the outer packaging must be rigid."
"The secondary packaging must be inserted into the outer packaging with suitable padding material."
"Any leakage of the contents must not impair the integrity of the cushioning material or the outer packaging."
Versapak's medical bags have an integrated reinforcement that ensures the bags remain stable at all times. The reinforcement is padded with a soft outer material that protects the contents and increases ease of use. The reinforcement, padding and outer material are designed so that contact with liquids does not compromise their integrity.
Requirements of packing instruction 650
"For transportation, the label shown below ... must be affixed."
"The official name for transportation "BIOLOGICAL SUBSTANCE, CATEGORY B" with a letter size of at least 6 mm must be indicated on the outer packaging directly next to the diamond-shaped mark."
An A5 window on the side of the bag is printed with the UN3373 logo. Inside the window, a white card forms a contrasting background and is printed with the corresponding text.
Requirements of packing instruction 650
"At least one of the surfaces of the outer packaging must have the minimum dimensions of 100 mm x 100 mm."
The smallest transport bag for biological substances from Versapak measures 305 x 170 x 305 mm.
Requirements of packing instruction 650
"The complete package shall be capable of successfully passing the drop test of 6.3.5.3 in accordance with the provisions of 6.3.5.2 at a drop height of 1.2 m."
Versapak's biological transport bag has been independently tested and certified to pass a drop test from a height of 1.2m in accordance with these regulations.
Click here to view the test results.
Primary, inner and outer packaging
A Versapak medical transport bag is the outer packaging according to UN3373 for biological substances. Primary packaging is required and is normally specified by the laboratory. Versapak supplies small (6 liter), medium (18 liter) and large (35 liter) medical transport bags to meet the requirements of most laboratories and medical facilities. Leak-proof inserts complement the inner packaging and are available in small, medium and large sizes to fit the transport bag. The inserts are fitted with fastening clips to prevent samples from spilling into the outer packaging when used with our absorbent material.
View all approved UN3373 transport bags from Versapak:
UN3373 Medical Bags
