Protocol for the Handling and Transportation of Potential Biohazardous Specimens and other Items
During the term of your employment with A-1 Courier, you will be asked to perform courier and delivery services that will require you to transport potentially infectious causing materials. The purpose of the following protocol is to educate you about the proper procedures for transporting specimens (and other possibly contaminated cargo) and establish guidelines to protect you and others from an Exposure Incident.  Universal precautions should be taken with all potential biohazardous cargo.  

Examples of potentially infectious (biohazardous) cargo:  

1.  Specimens in glass or plastic tubes or plastic cups (buckets) with lids containing tissue or organs.

2.  Specimens in Petri dishes

3.  Sharps containers (usually a red plastic jug).  These are used to dispose of used needles and are often picked up from patient homes requiring home health care. 

4.  Surgical instruments contaminated with visible blood.

5.  Any cargo bearing the biohazard emblem or in a red plastic bag.

6.  Units of blood, thawed fresh frozen plasma, or platelets.  

Required Equipment for the transportation of specimens:  

1.   An ice chest with locking lid, such as and igloo "Playmate". The ice chest must be labeled with the florescent orange Biohazard stickers. You will need at least two labeled ice chests; one for "wet" ice and the other for dry ice.

2.  At least two frozen ice packs. We have them at the office or the labs can usually give you a couple.

3.  A spill clean-up kit to be carried in your vehicle at all times which includes: (1 ) two pairs of surgical gloves; (2) two large zip lock bags; (3) red biohazard bag; (4) two cardboard scoops; (5) antiseptic wipes; and (6) a spill cleanup procedure list.  A-1 Courier will make random inspections of your spill clean-up kits.