221.3 PROHIBITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS 
.32 RESTRICTED ARTICLES 
* % % 
.325 Perishable Biological Materials. Perishable 
biological materials, including those of pathogenic 
nature, when sent in the postal union mail are ac- 
cepted only as LETTER PACKAGES. The follow- 
ing conditions apply: 
a. Mailing Restrictions 
If a country prohibits perishable biological ma- 
terials this is shown under Prohibitions in the 
country item in the Directory of International 
Mail. The packages must be packed as pre- 
scribed in 221.325c and must bear distinctive 
violet labels by which they can be readily recog- 
nized and receive careful handling and prompt 
delivery. 
b. Qualification of Mailers 
(1) Only officially recognized laboratories may 
send or receive letter packages containing 
perishable biological materials. Labora- 
tories of the following categories are so 
designated: 
Laboratories of local, State, and Federal 
government agencies. 
Laboratories of federally licensed manu- 
facturers of biologic substances derived 
from bacteria and viruses. 
Laboratories affiliated with or operated 
by hospitals, universities, research facili- 
ties, and other teaching institutions. 
Private laboratories licensed, certified, 
recognized, or approved by a public au- 
thority. 
(2) A laboratory desiring to mail letter packages 
containing materials of this kind shall make 
written application on its letterhead station- 
ery to the Classification and Special Serv- 
ices Division, Bureau of Operations, Post 
Selected Transport Media and Reagents 
Some biological specimens will withstand shipment 
better if placed in a protective medium or if a pre- 
servative is added. Likewise, isolated cultures of 
bacteria, fungi, or viruses should be placed in or upon 
a medium which will enhance or preserve their via- 
bility in transit. It this appendix no attempt is made 
to list all suitable transport media. The sender should 
give careful consideration to the selection of media 
in each specific case. Several “transport” media are 
available commercially. 
Office Department, Washington, D.C. 
20260, explaining its qualifications and those 
of the prospective addressee to send and re- 
ceive such materials, and stating how many 
packages are to be mailed. On approval, the 
mailer will receive a sufficient number of the 
violet labels for the contemplated shipments, 
c. Packaging 
( 1 ) Perishable biological material not of a path- 
ogenic nature must be packed in a nonpo- 
rous container surrounded by sufficient ab- 
sorbent material to take up all the liquid 
and must be placed in an outer protective 
container where it should fit tightly to avoid 
any shifting. 
(2) Perishable biological material of a patho- 
genic nature must be packed in a tightly 
closed bottle or tube or heavy glass wrapped 
in thick absorbent material rolled several 
times around the bottle or tube and tied at 
the ends, sufficient in quantity to absorb all 
the liquid; the wrapped container must be 
placed in a strong well-closed metal box 
constructed to prevent any contamination 
outside of it. This metal box must be 
wrapped in cushioning material and placed 
in an outer protective box where it should 
fit tightly to avoid shifting. The outer con- 
tainer must consist of a hollow block of 
strong wood, metal, or other equally strong 
material with a tight lid so fitted that it can- 
not open during transportation. 
(3) In addition to the requirements in (1) and 
(2), packages must comply with the regu- 
lations governing the transmission of such 
materials in the domestic mail. 
(4) The mailer must place on each package one 
of the violet labels mentioned in a and b(2). 
❖ ❖ 
IX II 
Some selected media recommended by the NCDC 
are: 
1 . Merthiolate solution for preserving blood serum 
1.4 gm. sodium borate (borax) 
1 .0 mg. merthiolate 
100.0 ml. FLO 
Dissolve the sodium borate in the water first 
and then add the merthiolate. Use 0.1 ml. of 
the above solution per 10 ml. of serum to give 
1 : 10 , 000 . 
38 
