The Postal Service does not have expertise of its own in the 
areas of biological materials, or etiologic agents. Since the 
primary expertise in matters dealing with etiologic agents and 
the transportation of this type material is in the Center For 
Disease Control and the Department of Transportation, we have 
enlisted their assistance in these technical areas. Issues we 
are addressing include the following: 
1. What is an etiologic agent? 
2. Are there levels of hazard among etiologic agents? 
3. How can, "material reasonably expected to contain an 
etiologic agent," be defined? 
4. What other procedures may be required regarding supposedly 
noninf ectious diagnostic specimens, and 
5. can potentially hazardous matter be more securely packaged 
for safer handling? 
Based on their expertise, we have contacted CDC and DOT for 
assistance in developing universal standards in this area. 
Although the Postal Service monitors the appropriate rules of 
other regulatory agencies, such as CDC and DOT, it does not have 
the indepth knowledge or staffing to develop technical standards 
on etiologic agents such as those contained in CFR 42. 
[394] Recombinant DNA Research, Volume 13 
