The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is working with local and state health departments and public health laboratories to test specimens from humans and animals with suspected monkeypox infection. This document provides instructions for the safe packing and shipment of human and animal specimens for monkeypox testing.

• Contact your state public health laboratory if you wish to submit human specimens for monkeypox testing.
• Coordinate the shipments of all animal specimens with your state veterinarian to ensure compliance with local, state and federal animal regulations.
• For more complete packing instructions see the current edition of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulations: and US DOT 49 CFR Parts 171-180.
• The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Hazardous Materials (HazMat) Regulations, 49 CFR Parts 171 - 180, require all persons who offer or transport diagnostic specimens to comply with applicable regulations.

A diagnostic specimen is any human or animal material being transported for diagnostic or investigational purposes, but excluding live infected animals.

DIAGNOSTIC SPECIMENS TRANSPORTED UNDER THE IATA REGULATIONS ARE ASSIGNED TO UN IDENTIFICATION NUMBER 3373.

PRIMARY PACKAGING

• Primary receptacle(s) must be water tight, e.g., screw cap seal with parafilm or adhesive tape or similar positive means to prevent the cap form loosening.
• Multiple primary receptacles must be wrapped individually to prevent breakage.
• When determining the volume of diagnostic specimens being shipped, include the viral transport media.
• Primary receptacle(s) must not contain more than 500 ml or 500 g. For animal specimens exceeding 500 g, before packaging, call CDC at 770-488-7100. The entire contents of the primary receptacle is the diagnostic specimen.

SECONDARY PACKAGING

• Use enough absorbent material in the secondary container to absorb the entire contents of all primary receptacles in case of leakage or damage.
• Secondary packaging must meet the IATA packaging requirements for diagnostic specimens including 1.2 meter (3.9 feet) drop test procedure. Since infectious substance packaging surpasses the requirements for diagnostic specimen packaging, in the IATA Packing Instruction 602, it can be used.
• Infectious substance packaging will have the required specification markings on packaging (“UN” will be in a circle), for example:

• Secondary packaging must be watertight. Follow the packaging manufacturer or other authorized party’s packing instructions included with the secondary packaging.
• Secondary packaging must be at least 100 mm (4 inches) in the smallest overall external dimension.
• Must be large enough for shipping documents, e.g., air waybill.

OUTER PACKAGING

• The outer packaging must not contain more than 4 L or 4 kg
• Both dry ice and wet ice must be placed outside the secondary packaging.
• Dry ice: packaging must permit the release of carbon dioxide gas and not allow a build-up of pressure that could rupture the packaging. The packaging must also meet general requirements for packagings under IATA and DOT regulations.
• Wet ice: the packaging must be leak-proof.
• Each package and the air waybill must be marked with the following exact wording:

• An itemized list of contents must be enclosed between the secondary packaging and the outer packaging. Place the list in a sealed plastic bag to protect from moisture.
• A Shipper’s Declaration for Dangerous Goods is NOT required.

Proper packing and labeling of the secondary container for shipping of diagnostic specimens

Figure 1. Packing and Labeling of Infectious Substances (click to see larger image)

SHIPPING INFORMATION
Please use CDC’s on-line web based incoming specimen tracking system by completing the shipping information form or send an e-mail with the shipping information to: EOCLogistic@cdc.gov

Ship the package to:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
ATTN: STAT Lab (forward to Poxvirus Section)
1600 Clifton Road, NE
Atlanta, GA 30333
Telephone: 770-488-7100