[Histonet] Paraffin blocks - Dangerous goods?]

[Ford Royer]

Cremated human remains are not considered a biohazard, providing that 
proper documentation from a certified & licensed crematory are 
presented.  The U.S. Postal Service accepts them for shipping as does 
UPS & FedEx.  USPS requires that they be shipped "Certified Mail" but 
that has to do with insuring that the remains of your loved one gets to 
their destination safely, not that it would be a Biohazard.  On the 
other hand, paraffin embedded tissue (human or animal) blocks are.  
Certain viruses and infectious prions can survive fixation and 
processing  (Biohazard) and the paraffin block itself is a flammable 
material (HazMat).  There are ways that they can be shipped if they are 
properly packaged and labeled by a trained packaging people.

~ Ford

Ford M. Royer, MT(ASCP)
Midwest Science Biocenter
Minneapolis, MN 55301

Jackie M O'Connor wrote:

>Unfortunately, they are considered a biohazard -(human tissue), although 
>my sister unknowingly sent our dead aunt's remains (ashes) via UPS once. I 
>came home from work and she was right there in a little box, sitting on my 
>front porch. Anyway, I digress -  I remember this being discussed before 
>as to why they (blocks) are still biohazardous since they're fixed and 
>processed.  I'm facing storage problems right now because we don't have 
>anywhere 'appropriate' to keep them.  Years (and years) ago - we stored 
>them in the basements and sub-basements (scary 4 foot ceilings) of 
>hospitals until they were found by lucky rodents or other vermin.  I'm 
>curious as to how and where people store them now, as well. 
>
>Jackie 
>
>
>
>
>"Richard Cartun" <Rcartun <@t> harthosp.org>
>Sent by: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
>11/30/2004 10:12 AM
>
> 
>        To:     <histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
>        cc: 
>        Subject:        [Histonet] Paraffin blocks - Dangerous goods?
>
>
>I have just been told that paraffin tissue blocks are considered
>"Dangerous Goods" and can only be packaged and shipped by individuals
>who have received special training.  Would anyone like to comment on
>this?  Thank you.
>
>Richard
> 
>
>Richard W. Cartun, Ph.D.
>Director, Immunopathology & Histology
>Assistant Director, Anatomic Pathology
>Hartford Hospital
>80 Seymour Street
>Hartford, CT  06102
>(860) 545-1596
>(860) 545-0174 Fax
>
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