Sample shipment – Diagnostic samples

When shipping infectious substances on public transport routes (land, air, sea), a number of regulations must be observed, which essentially concern the type of packaging, the labeling of packages and vehicles, the carrying of the correct documents, the equipment of the transport vehicles and the qualifications of the vehicle drivers.

The transportation of infectious samples to the relevant laboratory (proper shipment of patient samples) is essentially governed by the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR).

Further legal bases are cross-transport:

• Dangerous Goods Transportation Act – GGVefG
• Dangerous Goods Officer Ordinance – GbV

and specific to the mode of transport:

• Road transport (ADR), rail transport (RID), inland waterway transport (ADN)
  1. Ordinance on the national and international transport of dangerous goods by road, rail and inland waterways (Dangerous Goods Ordinance for Road, Rail and Inland Waterways - GGVSEB)
  2. DIRECTIVE 2008/68/EC on the inland transport of dangerous goods
  3. European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR)
  4. Guidelines for the implementation of the Dangerous Goods Ordinance Road and Rail (RSEB)
  5. Regulations concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail (RID)
  6. Ordinance on the Control of the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road and in Companies (GGKontrollV)
  7. European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Inland Waterways (ADN)
• Maritime transport (IMDG)
  1. Ordinance on the Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Sea (Dangerous Goods Ordinance Sea - GGV-See)
  2. Guidelines for the implementation of the Dangerous Goods Ordinance Sea (GGVSee - Implementation Guidelines)
  3. International Maritime Code for Dangerous Goods (IMDG Code)

• Air transport (IATA)
  1. International Air Transport Association Dangerous Goods Regulations (IATA-DGR)