Under IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, infectious substances split into two categories. Category A (UN 2814 for humans, UN 2900 for animals) can cause life-threatening disease; Category B (UN 3373) is everything diagnostic that does not meet that bar. Getting this wrong is expensive: too low and your shipment is non-compliant; too high and you pay for packaging, paperwork, and carrier surcharges you never needed.
The practical differences
- Packaging: PI 620 certified shippers for Category A vs standard triple packaging (PI 650) for B
- Paperwork: a signed Shipper's Declaration for Dangerous Goods for A; none for B
- Carrier acceptance: every carrier takes B; far fewer accept A, and often only on specific routes
- Cost: A routinely costs a multiple of B for the same lane
- Classification is driven by the pathogen and the material type — the safety data sheet or the receiving laboratory's instructions usually settle it
When in doubt, classify conservatively — or send us the pathogen information and we will do it for you before quoting.
Tell us what needs to move.
Route, sample, temperature, deadline — we answer with a plan and a quote within one business day.
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