Richard,

The primary container does NOT NEED to be a bio-hazard bag.  Sorry, I just
used that as a suggestion.  I did ask our safety person about the paraffin
block being the "primary container", but she thought that a plain (small)
bag could be used as the primary container and then a bio-hazard bag as the
secondary container, since the secondary container is required to have
"bio-hazard" on the outside.  I realize that "we" handle blocks without
gloves all the time, so I'm not sure what to tell you about that.  I guess
you'll have to check with your infection control person (I'd hate to open a
"can-o-worms" here).  The regulations are more for the transporting
personnel so they know how to handle certain "packages".  (That's just what
I think...)

Hope this helps...

Karen   

-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Cartun [mailto:Rcartun@harthosp.org]
Sent: Wednesday, December 01, 2004 11:50 AM
To: Bauer, Karen L.
Subject: RE: [Histonet] Paraffin blocks - Dangerous goods?


Thank you for the detailed information.  One question - If you put the
paraffin block into a "Biohazard" bag, doesn't that mean that the person
who opens the bag needs to be wearing gloves?  We (histotechs, lab
aides, secretaries, pathologists, etc.) handle paraffin tissue blocks
all the time without wearing gloves.

RWC

Richard W. Cartun, Ph.D.
Director, Immunopathology & Histology
Assistant Director, Anatomic Pathology
Hartford Hospital
80 Seymour Street
Hartford, CT  06102
(860) 545-1596
(860) 545-0174 Fax

>>> "Bauer, Karen"  12/01/04 12:41PM >>>
Our safety person in the lab has just "trained" us all on the proper
packaging of specimens in the lab based on the new regulations that are
out.
Regulations come from the International Civil Aviation Organization
(ICAO),
the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the USPS, and the
Department of Transportation (DOT).  Risk groups are ranged from 1 to 4
with
1 being "No to Low Risk" and 4 being "High Risk".  Low risk specimens
are
things like diagnostic serum, whole blood, urine, or tissue samples
not
known to contain pathogens.  Packaging for these specimens need to have
a
primary container (a bio-hazard bag would be fine for tissue blocks,
or
maybe the paraffin block itself is the primary container since the
tissue is
embedded inside it.  I'll have to check on that...), then a secondary
container (which could be another bio-hazard bag), and then an outer
package
that is sturdy.  This could be a cardboard box or one of those
insulated
manila envelopes used for fragile items.  We do not need to really
worry
about the outer package, since the couriers that pick up our specimens
from
the lab have coolers or bio-hazard containers that they put the
specimens
into.  This is considered the "outer package".  Our safety person then
had
everyone who went through the presentation take a short quiz (for
competency) and gave us a "Certificate" of being trained.  This
training
will need to be done every 2 years.  Everyone in the lab is being
trained,
since at some point we will all need to know how to ship something out
whether it will be Diagnostic or Infectious Specimens (Risk 1 to Risk
4).

Karen Bauer HT(ASCP
Histology Supervisor
Luther Hospital
Eau Claire, WI

-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Cartun [mailto:Rcartun@harthosp.org] 
Sent: Tuesday, November 30, 2004 10:12 AM
To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu 
Subject: [Histonet] Paraffin blocks - Dangerous goods?


I have just been told that paraffin tissue blocks are considered
"Dangerous Goods" and can only be packaged and shipped by individuals
who have received special training.  Would anyone like to comment on
this?  Thank you.

Richard
 

Richard W. Cartun, Ph.D.
Director, Immunopathology & Histology
Assistant Director, Anatomic Pathology
Hartford Hospital
80 Seymour Street
Hartford, CT  06102
(860) 545-1596
(860) 545-0174 Fax

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