Scenario: In a hospital in Saskatchewan, a doctor treats a patient who has been infected with Hepatitis B virus. The doctor draws a blood specimen from the patient and sends the sample to the hospital laboratory for packaging and subsequent shipment to a laboratory on the other side of the city for diagnostic testing. The doctor does not identify the blood specimen as being an "Infectious substance, affecting humans, Class 6.2, UN 2814, Risk Group II" because the doctor is of the opinion that the personal health information of the patient cannot be disclosed.

Question: Has the doctor acted in non-compliance with the Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) Regulations?

Response: Yes. In this scenario, the doctor knew that the patient was infected with Hepatitis B virus and was required to classify the blood specimen as "Infectious substance, affecting humans, Class 6.2, UN 2814, Risk Group II" in accordance with Part 2 of the TDG Regulations. As such, laboratory staff could have ensured that the sample was handled and offered for transport in accordance with the TDG Regulations. This would have included the completion of a dangerous goods shipping document, the selection of a proper means of containment and the display of dangerous goods safety marks on the means of containment. It is not necessary that a patient's name or any personal reference to the patient be indicated for any shipment of infectious substances.

As a footnote, please be advised that changes to the classification of infectious substances will take place once Amendment No. 6 to the TDG Regulations is adopted. Amendment No. 6 will introduce Category A and Category B infectious substances as well as changes to shipping documents, safety marks and means of containment for infectious substances.

For more information, please visit the TDG website at: http://www.tc.gc.ca/tdg/clear/modifications/menu.htm.

To learn about TDG Online Training, please click here.
 

Source: TDG Newsletter, Fall 2006 issue, Vol. 26 No. 2

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