A Category A infectious substance is a substance that if exposure occurs is capable of causing permanent disability, life-threatening or fatal disease in otherwise healthy humans or animals.

Category A infectious substance classification must be based on known medical history or symptoms. They pose a higher risk to humans and animals than Category B infectious substances.

These infectious substances pose a significant risk to the people transporting these substances as well as the recipient’s packages. Therefore, the correct safety precautions and regulations need to be followed to ensure safety throughout transportation.

Due to the risk associated with transporting Category A infectious substances, great care needs to be taken when selecting the correct packaging. There are many mandatory regulations that must be followed for the safe shipment of such substances.

As standard, Category A substances must be shipped with a triple packaging system. This system includes:

• Primary Receptacle
• Secondary packaging
• Outer Packaging

Each layer of packaging has strict guidelines which must be adhered to.

As well as the triple packaging, the infectious substances must be labelled in the correct way. This includes:

• The proper shipping name
• The correct UN number
• Appropriate hazard labels

Category A UN Numbers

UN2814 – Infectious substance affecting humans.

UN2900 – Infectious substance that affecting animals.

UN3549 – Medical waste, Category A affecting Animals only solid.

UN3549 – Medical waste, Category A affecting humans only solid.

Category A and Category B must be in separate primary receptacles but can be shipped in the same secondary or outer packaging, they must be packed in Category A UN approved packaging and labelled correctly.

As Category A substances are more dangerous than Category B substances, they cannot be shipped in Category B packaging.

However, Category B substances can be shipped in Category A packaging if it is desired.

If you are unsure about the packaging requirements for your substances, get in touch with our specialised packaging experts today.

Category A infectious substances fall under Class 6 Infectious Substances (Division 6.2). 

Class 6.2

6.2 Infectious Substances relate to substances that are known or suspected to contain pathogens. Some common examples of this are:

• Ebola Virus
• Hepatitis B Virus
• African Swine Fever Virus

A Shipper’s Declaration for Dangerous Goods must be completed by the shipper for each consignment containing Category A substances when transported by air. 

UN 3373 Biological Substance, Category B consignments do not require a Shipper’s Declaration for Dangerous Goods when transported by Air.

This dangerous goods declaration can be found on the IATA website.

For transport by road, The Dangerous Goods Transport Document must be completed for any carriage of goods governed by ADR.  When goods mentioned by name in Table A of Chapter 3.2 are listed as NOT SUBJECT TO ADR (e.g. UN1327 Bhusa) the consignor may enter in the transport document a statement to that effect. E.g. Not Goods of Class…

For multi-modal carriage of dangerous goods, a Multimodal Dangerous Goods Form may be completed.