Moses Kortok Mosobo1, Simon Ndirangu Muchohi1, Brett Lowe1,2, Norbert Peshu1
- Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)/Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research (Coast), P.O. Box 230, 80108, Kilifi, Kenya.
- Sickle Cell Disease Study, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Central Pathology Laboratory, Muhimbili National Hospital, P.O. Box 65001, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Tel: +254 727 398898 or +255 783 432102.
There is a growing need to transport by air, articles and substances having hazardous properties which if uncontrolled could adversely affect the safety of the passengers, crew and aircraft. The IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) are published in order to provide procedures for the shipper and the operator by which articles and substances with hazardous properties can be safely transported on all commercial transport. Articles or substance could be carried safely provided that they are packed, identified and the quantities in each package are properly limited.
The UN classifies each article or substance and their acceptability for air transport as well as condition for their transport. Dangerous goods are articles or substances which are capable of posing a significant risk to health, safety or property when transported by air or road.
The objectives of this presentation are: (a) To outline and share the experience gained in shipping potentially biohazardous biological materials from a biomedical research facility in a resource-limited setting in Sub-Saharan Africa to other parts of the world; and (b) To highlight the problems and challenges faced while carrying out this key task in a resource-limited setting, especially from field study sites to the main laboratory in the research facility within the country.
Key words: Shipment, Dangerous Goods, Biological Materials, IATA, Transport