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Biological Substance, Category B Specimens
International Shipping

Packing Procedure

  1. Place specimens into a Mayo Medical Laboratories’ color-coded plastic shipping bag and insert a Mayo Medical Laboratories Request form(s) into outside pocket.

    Medical samples being transported to testing laboratories must be maintained at an appropriate temperature: ambient, refrigerate, or frozen.
    Ambient Bag - white (T027)
    Frozen Bag - yellow (T121)
    Refrigerate Bag - pink (T229)

  2. Seal the plastic bag after specimens are inside.
  3. If you are not shipping immediately, store the specimens at the temperatures recommended in the Mayo Medical Laboratories test catalog. Temperature definitions: Frozen (-10ºC), Refrigerated (4ºC), and Ambient (20ºC).
  4. Place the bags containing the specimens into an insulated styrofoam shipping container. The walls of the container should be at least 4 centimeters thick to provide sufficient insulation.
  5. Add coolant to the styrofoam shipping container as necessary to meet temperature requirements. (See diagrams 1a and 1b)

    Frozen:

    1. We recommend a minimum of 10 kg of dry ice to the frozen styrofoam shipping container.
    2. Note: Small pieces of dry ice are preferable to blocks, if possible.
    3. Close the container.

    Refrigerate:

    1. Add one frozen cool pack to the styrofoam shipping container.
      Note: A water/sponge cool pack is preferable to a gel pack.
    2. Place paper towels between the cool pack and the specimens.
    3. Close the container.

    Ambient:

    1. Add a cool pack that has remained at room temperature for 24 hours. (Refrigerate and ambient specimens may be shipped in a single styrofoam shipping container if the frozen cool pack is on the bottom and the ambient specimens shipping bag is placed on top of the refrigerate specimens.)
    2. Close the container.
  6. Insert the styrofoam shipping container into an outer cardboard box.
  7. Tape the outer cardboard box closed with strong packing tape.
  8. If frozen specimens are shipped, place a UN dry ice label on the box, and mark the weight of the dry ice on the box near the class 9 diamond-shaped hazard label. The weight should match on the Air Waybill and the commercial invoice.

  9. If you are using a box other than a Mayo Medical Laboratories Berry box, you MUST label the box with the UN3373 marking and the proper shipping name, "Biological Substance, Category B." The proper shipping name must be next to the UN3373 marking.

Refrigerate/Ambient Packing Example

Diagram 1a
Frozen cool pack helps keep specimens from becoming too warm

 

Reminder - Do not use dry ice to freeze the cool pack; if dry ice is your only option, then remove the cool pack from the dry ice three hours before use.

Frozen Packing Example

Diagram 1b

Reminder - Do not fill the frozen styrofoam shipping container too full of specimen bags. Leave room for dry ice on top of the topmost specimen shipping bag and make sure the styrofoam lid fits tightly.

Shipping Procedure

If you plan to ship infectious or noninfectious specimens on a routine basis, contact customer service. For occasional shipments of noninfectious specimens, follow the shipping procedure below.

  1. Complete a Commercial Invoice for U.S. Customs. An example Commercial Invoice with instructions and two (2) partially preprinted Commercial Invoices are enclosed. This document is required in order to clear the shipment through U.S. Customs.
  2. Contact FedEx or a freight forwarder to schedule a shipment. Ship the box to:
    Mayo Medical Laboratories
    Attn: Michele Buri
    3050 Superior Drive NW
    Rochester, MN 55901
    U.S.
    507.266.5700
    Ask the forwarder to help you complete the documentation and arrange for clearing the shipment through U.S. Customs.
  3. FedEx will ask you to complete an Air Waybill. A sample Air Waybill with instructions is below along with two (2) partially preprinted FedEx Air Waybills. Other freight forwarders will use their own documentation. The freight forwarder can help you fill in the required information based on these examples.
  4. Very important! Fax a copy of the Air Waybill number and Commercial Invoice to Mayo Medical Laboratories Transportation Department at 507.284.1790.

For additional information or assistance pertaining to shipping procedures, contact the Mayo Medical Laboratories Transportation Department at 507.266.5700.

Labeling and Invoice Example

 

Shipments Not Containing Dry Ice

FedEx International Air Waybill Example

Shipments Containing Dry Ice

Expanded Service International Air Waybill Example