1.   If your microorganism has previously been imported into the USA from a foreign    country, or if you are shipping microorganisms to the United States from a foreign country, please follow these instructions carefully.

2.   If your microorganism is a human, plant, or livestock pathogen, please consult with us prior to shipping to insure that we have appropriate permits and biosafety precautions.

3.   Inoculate pure microbial cultures onto solid agar and incubate to provide adequate growth. There are no media restrictions or preferences except as stated in item 7, c, iii  below.  Microtube slants and stabs are preferred because they are small and hard to break.  Seal with laboratory film.

4.   Label with your sample ID and date inoculated.

5.   Package according to the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

http://www.cdc.gov/od/ohs/biosfty/bmbl4/b4ac.htm and according to the regulations of thePublic Health Service and the Department of Transportation.

Please ship all known or suspected pathogens as mandated by governement regulations. (42 CFR part 72)

No person may knowingly transport or cause to be transported in interstate traffic, directly or indirectly, any material including, but not limited to, diagnostic specimens and biological products which such person reasonably believe may contain an etiologic agent unless such material is packaged to withstand leakage of contents, shocks, pressure changes, and other conditions incident to ordinary handling in transportation.

The CDC has issued a list of specific bacterial species and genera that require additional packaging and shipping requirements.  Please consult the list published at http://www.cdc.gov/od/ohs/biosfty/shipregs.htm before sending samples to PM Services.  A source of packaging materials can be obtained from Saf-T-Pak, Inc. (http://www.saftpak.com ). 

Please note that we cannot accept Class III and certain other classes of pathogens.   We do not accept vancomycin resistant Staphylococcus aureus.  We do not accept select agents as defined by the CDC http://www.cdc.gov/od/sap/ . 

6.   For USA interstate shipping, follow the regulations set by the CDC.

http://www.cdc.gov/od/ohs/biosfty/shipregs.htm and consult your shipper for guidance.

7.      For international shipping, refer to the World Health Organization     http://www.who.int/en/ , the International Air Transport Association http://www.iata.org/index.htm , and your shipper for guidance.

8.      Assemble your shipping documents. Attach shipping documents to outer container in accessible pouch.

1. Include Biolog’s CDC import permit http://www.biolog.com/special/Import_permit.pdf

      (print and enclose with shipping documents)

2. For species of: ACTINOMYCES, ERYSIPELOTHRIX, LISTERIA, CAMPYLOBACTER, CORYNEBACTERIUM, ACTINBACILLUS, BORDETELLA, ESCHERICHIA, HEMOPHILUS, MORAXELLA, NEISSERIA, PASTURELLA, SALMONELLA, SHIGELLA, VIBRIO (non cholera), AND YERSINIA (non pestis)

Include Biolog’s APHIS veterinary permit. 

http://www.biolog.com/special/Vet_Permit.pdf

(print and enclose with shipping documents).

This permit is not required for other genera, but item 8 ,c,I and 8,c,iv (below) is required.  Review USDA GUIDELINES FOR IMPORTATION #1116 http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ncie/inpath-micro.html

3. A ORIGINAL signed letter on your institutions letterhead addressing the following (enclose with shipping documents):

                                                               i.      Description of contents, including number of vials, volume, genus and species

                                                             ii.      Source of organisms

                                                            iii.      For organisms listed in 8 ,b, confirm 1) that bacteria have been subcultured at least four times since initial isolation, with only the fourth subculture and beyond permitted entry into the United States; 2) that bacteria have been grown and shipped in a medium that was autoclaved prior to inoculation, without the subsequent addition of any fresh animal products, such as blood, serum, milk, etc.

                                                           iv.      State whether the contents are infectious or contagious to humans, livestock, or poultry.  If not infectious or contagious to livestock or poultry, state that the microorganism is not considered pathogenic to livestock or poultry.

                                                             v.      Reason for shipping; i.e. Phenotypic analysis by Biolog.  Also state that Biolog will destroy the samples upon completion of the analysis.