By law, any person who causes dangerous goods to be transported by a public carrier must follow specific regulations and must have proof of training. In a laboratory environment, "sendout staff," those transporting dangerous goods, and those receiving dangerous goods are among the individuals requiring training. Upon completion of this course, participants will be eligible to take an online self-assessment quiz to obtain a "Dangerous Goods Shipping" training completion certificate.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:
Describe the regulations imposed on most laboratories and the importance of following them.
Classify infectious substances for transport.
Demonstrate the procedures for legally and safely shipping various infectious specimens.
Integrate dangerous goods procedures into a laboratory.
Complete the online self-assessment quiz, which enables participants to obtain the "Dangerous Goods Shipping" certification.
Training Module
Note: Do not save a direct link to the self-assessment quiz for future use. This link changes with updated versions of the module. Therefore, previous links will not work.
You will be prompted to register/sign in to access the quiz.
You must score 80% or higher to pass the quiz and obtain your certificate.
Generate and print the "Dangerous Goods Shipping" certificate that launches automatically at the end of the quiz.
If you have problems, view the FAQ section.
Sign the certificate and have a supervisor at your facility sign as "Supervisor."
Retain a copy of the training-completion certificate and a copy of these training materials.
Certification expires two years after the completion date.
ASCLS P.A.C.E.® Credit
Mayo Clinic Laboratories is approved as a provider of continuing education programs in the Clinical Laboratory Sciences by the ASCLS P.A.C.E.® program. This program has been approved for a maximum of 1.0 P.A.C.E. contact hour. The level of instruction for this program is intermediate.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I print my certificate? To print your certificate, click here to follow these instructions.
If I work in a hospital laboratory sendout area and a courier picks up our specimens, do I need Dangerous Goods training? Yes. The hospital staff involved in classifying or packaging specimens that will be transported on a public highway or on an airplane must be trained, per 49CFR, 172.700.
Is the Dangerous Goods training course different from your online packing and shipping information? Yes. By law, any person who causes dangerous goods to be transported by a public carrier must follow specific regulations and must have proof of training. The online Dangerous Goods Training is intended to assist hospital employees; courier drivers; and others who may classify, package, or transport medical specimens to comply with U.S. DOT and ICAO/IATA rules and regulations.
If I am not shipping a Category A Infectious Substance, do I still need to take the Dangerous Goods training? Yes. By law, any person who causes dangerous goods to be transported by a public carrier must follow specific regulations and must have proof of training. Both Category A Infectious Substance Affecting Humans and Category B Biological Substance are assigned to Hazard Class 6, Division 6.2
Why not simply classify all medical specimens as Category A, to avoid under-classifying shipments? The packaging and documentation requirements for Category A Infectious Substance Affecting Humans are much more detailed and stringent than the requirements for Category B Biological Substances. The certified containers that are used to transport Category A specimens are more expensive as well. Category B Biological Substances can be safely transported when packaged in compliance with IATA Packing Instruction 650.
Do I need to keep a certificate of training with me whenever I transport Category A specimens? No, but a record of current training must be retained by the employer while the employee is employed and for 90 days thereafter.
Does Mayo Clinic Laboratories need to have a copy of the hospital client's or courier's certificate of training? No. All hospital clients and vendor couriers must maintain their own proof-of-training documents.
Who needs Dangerous Goods training? By law, any person who causes dangerous goods to be transported by a public carrier must follow specific regulations and must have proof of training. In a laboratory environment, sendout staff, those who transport dangerous goods, and those who receive dangerous goods are among those who require training. Upon completion of the Dangerous Goods Training course, you will be eligible to take an online self-assessment quiz to obtain a Dangerous Goods Shipping training completion certificate.
Is Dangerous Goods training IATA certified? Mayo Clinic Laboratories' online Dangerous Goods Training is intended for use by our clients and vendors who may ship medical specimens to us from time to time. The training material is based on both United States regulations (US Department of Transportation) and also on ICAO/IATA regulations. Although no training modules are or can be "certified" or "recognized" by IATA or by air carriers, we believe our online module fulfills the IATA training requirements. It is the responsibility of the dangerous goods "shipper" to train its employees in the IATA regulations. The "shipper" can use its own training methods, Mayo's training, or another source of training, as long as that training meets the requirements of general familiarization, function-specific, and safety training.
Is there a cost for Dangerous Goods training? No. This training is provided free of charge, and it is provided as a service to Mayo Clinic Laboratories clients and couriers.
Mayo Clinic Laboratories provides this training as a service to clients and couriers. It is limited to shipping of medical specimens for diagnostic testing, including Category A Infectious Substances and Category B Biological Substances. Although Mayo Clinic Laboratories strives to ensure that the information is current and accurate, it is the employer’s responsibility to perform and verify the training of their employees.
No training is endorsed or "certified" by ICAO, FAA, TSA, IATA, DOT, or any other association or agency.
Parts of this training apply only to shipments originating or ending in the United States. Only Mayo Clinic Laboratories clients and couriers should use this training. Non-Mayo Clinic Laboratories clients and couriers are encouraged to use one of the many commercial vendors specializing in IATA and DOT training.
