# Biological Materials and Dry Ice Shipping ## Summary How to ship and transport biological materials and dry ice to and from Harvard, including [locally transport materials around Harvard and Greater Boston](/resource/biological-materials-and-dry-ice-shipping#local-transportation "Biological Materials and Dry Ice Shipping"). ## Who is this for? All students, faculty, and staff who ship biological materials or dry ice. ## Shipping biological materials Before classifying or preparing a biological material shipment, you must have completed appropriate shipper training within the past two years. This training does not certify you to ship all hazardous materials. To ship or transport some biological materials, you may need permits from agencies like the Department of Agriculture and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This includes some materials exempt from United States Department of Transportation (DOT) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) regulations. Use [eShipGlobal](https://harvard.service-now.com/ithelp?id=kb_article&sys_id=807e79ee4791a1906b944f53636d4387) to ship biological materials, chemicals, and research materials. ### Shipping to or within the United States Some materials may require import or transport permits. Before you send the shipment, the recipient is responsible for obtaining [all required permits](/resource/lab-shipping-and-transportation-manual "Lab Shipping and Transportation Manual"). You must include the permits in the shipping documentation. ### Shipping outside the United States Contact research compliance to determine export control requirements. ### Shipping requirements by biological material Open all sections Close all sections ### Infectious materials expand\_more ##### Biological substances (Category B) You must follow UN3373 requirements to ship infectious substances that are not in a form generally capable of causing permanent, life-threatening, or fatal illness in otherwise healthy humans or animals. To ship these materials: 1. Complete the training course [Shipping Biological Materials and Dry Ice](https://trainingportal.harvard.edu/Saba/Web_spf/NA1PRD0068/app/me/learningeventdetail;spf-url=common%2Fledetail%2Fcours000000000003256). ##### Infectious substances (Category A) You must follow UN2814 and UN2900 requirements to ship infectious substances that could cause permanent, life-threatening, or fatal illness in humans or animals. To ship these materials: 1. Review [examples of Category A infectious substances](/resource/category-infectious-substance-examples "Category A Infectious Substance Examples"). 2. For Category A materials classified as either UN2814 or UN2900, contact to ship materials. If you suspect that a material contains an infectious substance, you must classify the material in the same category as the suspected pathogens (including diagnostic specimens). ### Non-infectious materials expand\_more Follow these steps to ship non-infectious materials. ##### Exempt human and animal specimens Exempt human and exempt animal specimen samples collected from humans or animals are unlikely to contain pathogens. Examples include blood, tissues, bodily fluids, and cells. To ship these materials: 1. Complete the training course [Shipping Biological Materials and Dry Ice](https://trainingportal.harvard.edu/Saba/Web_spf/NA1PRD0068/app/me/learningeventdetail;spf-url=common%2Fledetail%2Fcours000000000003256). ##### Genetically modified organisms and microorganisms You must follow UN3245 requirements to ship non-infectious organisms or microorganisms with intentionally altered genetic material. To ship these materials: 1. Complete the training course [Shipping Biological Materials and Dry Ice](https://trainingportal.harvard.edu/Saba/Web_spf/NA1PRD0068/app/me/learningeventdetail;spf-url=common%2Fledetail%2Fcours000000000003256). 2. Follow DOT/IATA Packing Instruction 959 (available online or from EHS). ### Preservatives expand\_more Preservatives include ethanol, formalin, and formaldehyde. Biological materials shipped with preservatives might have additional packaging, marking, and labeling requirements. Quantities and concentrations are limited. Contact EHS for all other chemical shipments. To ship preservatives: 1. Complete the training course [Shipping Excepted Quantities: Flammables, Corrosives, and Common Fixatives](https://trainingportal.harvard.edu/Saba/Web_spf/NA1PRD0068/app/me/learningeventdetail/cours000000000003257). 2. Follow any additional packaging, marking, and labeling requirements. ## Shipping dry ice To ship dry ice: 1. Complete the training course [Shipping Biological Materials and Dry Ice](https://trainingportal.harvard.edu/Saba/Web_spf/NA1PRD0068/app/me/learningeventdetail;spf-url=common%2Fledetail%2Fcours000000000003256). 2. Follow DOT/IATA Packaging Instruction 954. You do not need to follow regulations to ship certain materials like DNA, protein, and fixed tissues and cells. However, you must follow applicable requirements if you ship these materials in dry ice. To ship non-regulated materials in dry ice: 1. Complete the training course [Shipping Non-Regulated Materials and Dry Ice](https://trainingportal.harvard.edu/Saba/Web_spf/NA1PRD0068/app/me/learningeventdetail;spf-url=common%2Fledetail%2Fcours000000000003259). ## Local transportation Use this information to transport packages containing biological materials, infectious substances, or dry ice to local destinations. You must follow DOT requirements when transporting dangerous goods either: - Within Harvard campuses with multiple buildings separated by public roadways or spaces. - Between Harvard and other institutions in Greater Boston. Biological materials that must follow DOT hazardous materials ground transportation requirements include: - Infectious substances (Category A). - Biological substances (Category B). - Genetically modified microorganisms (GMMO). - Exempt human and animal specimens. - Dry ice (even if other materials you are transporting are not hazardous, dry ice requires DOT/IATA training and compliance for packaging and labeling). Open all sections Close all sections ### Sending locally transported materials expand\_more When considering if you should locally transport materials: - Never hand-carry Category A materials off-campus or between campuses. Contact EHS for more information. - **Never put dry ice in a completely sealed container.** It will over-pressurize and violently release and can cause serious injuries and property damage. - If you transport materials by vehicle, ensure packaging and labeling meets DOT requirements. - To use ground transportation for non-hazardous materials (like non-infectious nucleic acids or proteins) on wet ice, ice packs, or at ambient temperatures, triple pack the materials and label the package with to and from information. If you are not a Harvard affiliate, follow your specific institutional policies for more detailed requirements. #### Sending locally transported materials from Harvard To follow DOT hazardous materials ground transportation requirements: 1. Confirm with the recipient that they received approval from their Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) to use the material. The Harvard IBC is the Committee on Microbiological Safety (COMS). 2. To package or transport materials by vehicle, you must have completed DOT/IATA training in the past two years. Otherwise, either a trained colleague must package and transport the material or you must contact [ehs\_researchtransport@harvard.edu](mailto:ehs_researchtransport@harvard.edu) to receive training. 3. Package and label the materials to meet DOT/IATA requirements. If you transport materials by vehicle, packaging and labeling must fully comply with DOT requirements. 4. Exit the building with the package. Follow your institution’s transport policy for traveling inside the building and any specific travel route requirements, such as using service or freight elevators instead of passenger elevators. 5. Travel to your destination using an appropriate local transportation method. 6. If you are delivering materials to a place where you do not have access into the lab, arrange for the recipient to meet you in a public place like the building lobby or to escort you into their building. Do not leave the package unattended, with building security, or at reception. Do not enter a building using someone else’s ID card access. ### Choosing a local transportation method expand\_more When choosing a local transportation method: - Never use public transportation or rideshare services to transport these materials. - Avoid transporting dry ice packages in poorly ventilated vehicles due to suffocation hazard. - Only use a personal vehicle or bicycle if EHS grants specific approval. Transporting biological shipments may null and void your auto insurance in an accident. - If you use a taxicab, you must ride with the package. Metro Cab of Boston transports properly packaged materials, but individual cab drivers can refuse to transport any package. Call ahead to ensure the company will accept biomedical packages or dry ice. - Medical couriers like Deliv and Skycom can transport certain properly packaged materials. Your institution may already have an agreement with a courier service. #### Local transportation methods SortLocal transportation methods by materialTransportation MethodNon-Hazardous Biological Material on Wet Ice or Ice PacksNon-Hazardous Biological Material on Dry Ice, GMMO, Exempt Patient or Animal Specimen, or Category B Biological SubstanceHarvard vehicle Yes Yes Local shuttle (MASCO or Harvard shuttle) No No Medical courier Yes Yes Personal vehicle or bicycle Yes Not recommended Public transportation (trains, buses, or commuter rail) No No Rideshare No No Taxicab Yes Yes Walking Yes Yes ### Receiving locally transported materials expand\_more 1. Arrange an appropriate time and place to receive the package from the transporter or sender. 2. Before you accept the package: - Check the outside of the box to confirm the material is properly packaged and labeled. For example, check for Class 9, dry ice, UN1845 and kg labels for dry ice. - Verify the outer packaging does not have any significant wet areas that could be from a leaking inner package. If the material is not properly packaged and labeled, refuse the package or move the package to the nearest lab. 3. Open all packages in a biological safety cabinet or fume hood while wearing full personal protective equipment (PPE), including lab coat, gloves, and safety glasses. 4. If you find any issues, such as dry ice in a closed container, evacuate the lab and call your local EHS department. ## Related resources Find documents and online tools to ship and transport biological materials and dry ice. [### Biological Material Import and Transportation Permits ](/resource/biological-material-import-and-transportation-permits)Apply for permits to import or transport regulated biological materials [### Biosafety Manual ](/resource/biosafety-manual)Safety guidance, policies, and procedures for work with biological materials [### Category A Infectious Substance Examples ](/resource/category-infectious-substance-examples)Examples of Category A infectious substances for biological material shipping requirements [### Hazardous Material Triple Packaging ](/resource/hazardous-material-triple-packaging)Pack hazardous materials for shipping or transportation [### Lab Safety Guideline: Dry Ice ](/resource/lab-safety-guideline-dry-ice)Work with dry ice in a lab [### Lab Shipping and Transportation Manual ](/resource/lab-shipping-and-transportation-manual)Ship and transport lab and research materials [### Liquid Nitrogen Dry Shippers ](/resource/liquid-nitrogen-dry-shippers)Ship biological materials in dry shippers cooled with refrigerated liquid nitrogen ## EHS support For more information about specific biological materials, review regulations or [contact EHS](/contact-us "Contact Us"). Contact [ehs\_researchtransport@harvard.edu](mailto:ehs_researchtransport@harvard.edu) for more information about shipping or transporting biological materials and dry ice, including: - Biological material shipping classifications. - Dry ice shipping labels. - Preparing biological material shipments (including flowcharts). See also:- [ All Students, Faculty, and Staff ](/audience/all-students-faculty-and-staff) - [ Labs and Research ](/audience/labs-and-research) - [ Biosafety ](/topic-areas/biosafety) - [ Shipping and Transportation ](/topic-areas/shipping-and-transportation) - [ Biological and Dry Ice Shipping ](/topic-areas/biological-and-dry-ice-shipping)