Training Sources
All personnel who will be responsible for shipping or transporting biohazadous agents, recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules, or Select agents or toxins MUST complete the Shipping/Transporting Training modules prior to shipping or transporting any biohazardous materials. In addition, this personnel must be listed on an approved IBC protocol.
Shipping is defined as preparing a package to be carried by a commercial transport vendor such as Federal Express, DHL, or international carriers. It also refers to preparing diagnostic samples for transport by a courier not employed by the laboratory doing the packaging, i.e. a courier from a diagnostic laboratory.
Transport is defined as preparing a package to be taken from one laboratory to another laboratory by personnel who understand the hazards or characteristics of the package contents. Transport can occur within one campus site, between campuses, or from campus to a non-campus location (i.e. collaborating institution).
Shipping training and certification must be completed every 2 years for investigators shipping and transporting biohazardous materials. Documentation of completed training must be available to the IBC/Research Services during the review process for a specific protocol and before final IBC approval can be provided for the activity. CITI Training certificates and records can be accessed directly by ORS staff, so it is not necessary to send a copy of the documentation of training to ORS.
Individuals who need to take the shipping and transport training would select the Learner Group called “Shipping Training.”
Shipping and transport training consists of the following modules:
Shipping Regulated Biological materials
- Overview
- Classifications
- Packaging requirements
- Shipping papers
- Permits for restricted shipments and transfers
- Security awareness
- Emergency response information
- Refrigerants
- Appendix
After most CITI modules there is a multiple choice quiz that relates to that module. In order to obtain credit for the training, individuals must complete the quiz after each module and obtain an overall average passing score of 80%. Individual quizzes may be retaken, if necessary, in order to obtain a passing score.