Catalog CD ROM Place Order Thermal Technology Training
  The World Leader in Certified Packaging and Compliance Training
Home Page
Bulletins
Online Forms
FAQs
Links
Support
Contact Us
Privacy Policy

New Fall Training Registration Form and Schedule
Now Available - Click Here!!

For FAQ's related to our training CD or Internet Based Training click here.

Les questions les plus courantes cliquer ici.

Frequently Asked Questions - Packaging and Regulatory
 
  1. Packing instruction 650 - what is it. Does your diagnostic packaging meet the standard?
  2. WHENEVER THERE IS A SPILL, EMISSION OR ACCIDENT INVOLVING INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES, WHO DO I CALL?
  3. HOW IMPORTANT IS TRAINING?
  4. How much is the average fine for hazardous materials transport violations?
  5. Does the primary I am using meet the criteria for packing Instruction 650?
  6. Does my package comply with the air regulations?
  7. How to make a Shipment following IATA
  8. How to make a Shipment following 49 CFR
  9. Classification of Your Shipment: Is it Infectious or Non-Infectious
  10. What do you have in which we could ship 100 vials in a refrigerated package?<
  11. Can i use COMPETITORS BOTTLE in your outer package?
  12. The courier says your STP-100 is to small to properly affix shipping documents.
  13. The carrier says the container isn't approved for shipping infectious substances.
  14. Can I purchase directly from Saf-T-Pak?
  15. What is Saf-T-Pak's product return policy?
  16. We will regularly ship 400 samples a week in a refrigerated state. WHAT CAN WE USE?
  17. Our facility needs to ship human organs. Do you have something which will do this?
  18. Do you sell a class 9 package for dry ice?
  19. How many pounds of dry ice will go into a MEDI FREEZ (STP-300)?
  20. What is the length of time the dry ice will last in a MEDI FREEZ (STP-300)?
  21. How many pounds of dry ice will go into the STP 370?
  22. Do you sell packaging or containers to store or ship biomedical waste?
  23. Does the 24 hour emergency response telephone number have to be written on the outside of the shipping package?
  24. Does Saf-T-Pak give a discount for 3 or more people who sign up for a training session?

CAN I USE A COMPETITORS BOTTLE IN YOUR OUTER PACKAGE?
ANSWER: No. The key phrase here is "your outer package". Regulated packaging is only valid if used IN THE TESTED CONFIGURATION. Our regulated packages are constructed, tested and approved to be used only with our own Saf-T-Pak components. To use other bottles, vials or containers as a replacement for the Saf-T-Pak secondary container, would render the complete package illegal and probably ineffective in protecting the specimens being shipped.

WE WILL REGULARLY SHIP 400 SAMPLES A WEEK IN A REFRIGERATED STATE. WHAT CAN WE USE?
ANSWER: This depends on the size of your primary container. Each case is different although they are all subject to the following limitations. Maximum net quantity per package of 50 ml for Passenger vehicle, and 4 L for cargo only (there some exceptions to this call us for details). The size of the primary container used may make some packaging impractical. Our newest solution and the lowest cost is the STP-310 it will hold up to 3 cryogenic vial boxes for a total of 243 specimens per package and will last over 72 hours on dry ice. Another possibility is using the STP 350. It can accommodate 8 polypropylene pressure vessels packed in dry ice. If Sarstedt # 72 vials are used for example, each pressure vessel will hold 50 of those vials. This means the eight pressure vessels in total would hold 400 specimens. Another option would be If you were using cryogenic vial boxes, they could be placed in a STP 370. Each STP-370 can contain up to 273 cryogenic vials, so 2 STP-370's would take care of it. Both of these shippers meet ICAO Packing Instruction 602(infectious) and 904 (dry ice).
OUR FACILITY NEEDS TO SHIP HUMAN ORGANS. DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING WHICH WILL DO THIS?
ANSWER: We have several configurations including the STP-310, STP-350, STP-100, STP-110, and others please contact one of our customer service representatives for assistance via e-mail or by calling 1-800-814-7484
DO YOU SELL A CLASS 9 PACKAGE FOR DRY ICE?
ANSWER: Our STP-310, STP-350, STP-320 and STP-300 are all suitable for use with dry ice.
WHAT IS BETTER FOR PACKING FROZEN SPECIMENS, DRY ICE NUGGETS OR SLABS?
ANSWER: If you mean which will keep your specimens frozen for a longer period of time, 10 kilos (22.2lbs) of dry ice nuggets will keep the contents of an STP-300 frozen for 48 hours in an ambient temperature of 22 C. One test has show that commercial dry ice slabs can keep contents frozen for up to 76 hours under the same ambient temperature.
DOES THE 24 HOUR EMERGENCY RESPONSES TELEPHONE NUMBER HAVE TO BE WRITTEN ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE SHIPPING PACKAGE?
ANSWER: No. This number needs to be recorded on the shipping document. However you must record the name and telephone number of a "person responsible" on the package for all shipments of division 6.2 (Infectious Substances). This information is fully covered in Saf-T-Pak's training products.
DOES SAF-T-PAK GIVE A DISCOUNT FOR 3 OR MORE PEOPLE WHO SIGN UP FOR A TRAINING SESSION?
ANSWER: Yes we do. For further details contact our training Co-Ordinator at 1-800-814-7484 for more details on our training sessions, or email at Saf-T-Pak.
Does my package comply with the air regulations?
If you ship liquid diagnostic specimens by air, are you sure that you are complying with the regulations? Hospitals, labs, clinics, etc. ship thousands of specimens very day and all manner of primary receptacles are used. There are some packages currently on the market that the manufacturers claim are compliant with IATA Packing Instruction 650. This regulation dictates, in part, that either the primary or secondary container used in a shipment must pass a 95 kPa internal pressure differential test. Unfortunately, many of these shipping systems offer a secondary container that does not meet these requirements. As a consequence, your primary container must pass to make the shipment legal.

Take a look at your shipping system. If in doubt, ask the manufacturer if their vials pass the required test. If all your primaries have been tested and certified, fear not. If they are not designed to withstand this test, and the secondary container you use does not qualify, your shipments do not comply with the regulations.

With large operations, it is virtually impossible to standardize all primary containers to be legal under PI 650. A far easier, cost effective, and legal approach would be to seek out a packaging system with a secondary container that meets or exceeds the prescribed pressure test criteria. A leaking package could result in a very high fine or civil liabilities with no upper limit. Regulations are written with the main purpose of safety. Abiding by them should be your number one concern.

Saf-T-Pak Inc 17854 106A Ave Edmonton AB T5S 1V3 1-800-814-7484
Copyright © 2008 Saf-T-Pak