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Appendix 2: Classification of biological materials for transport

The classification of biological materials are based on the level of the infectivity of the biological
material and the mode(s) of the transportation used while acknowledging the regulatory requirements
where applicable.

Infectious substances

Infectious substances shall be classified as Division 6.2 dangerous goods and assigned the
appropriate UN number: UN 2814, UN 2900, UN 3291 or UN 3373 and classified either as Category
A or Category B. There is no direct relationship between Risk Groups of microorganisms and
categories A and B.

a) Category A, UN2814

Category A biological materials comprise infectious substances which are transported in a
form that, when exposure to it occurs, is capable of causing permanent disability, life-
threatening or fatal disease in otherwise healthy humans oranimals.

NOTE: An exposure occurs when an infectious substance is released outside its
protective packaging, resulting in physical contact with humans or animals.

Table 1 provides a list of indicative examples of substances that meet these criteria. This
list is reproduced from the UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods,
Model Regulations for Category A Infectious substances. This list is not exhaustive.
Infectious substances including new or emerging pathogens which do not appear in the
Appendix but which meet the same criteria need to be assigned to Category A. In addition
if there is doubt as to whether or not an infectious substance meets the criteria for
Category A it needs to be included in Category A.

Infectious substances meeting these criteria which cause disease in humans or both in
humans and animals shall be assigned to UN 2814.

The proper shipping name for UN 2814 is “INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCE, AFFECTING
HUMANS”.

b) Category A, UN2900

Infectious substances which cause disease only in animals shall be assigned to UN 2900.
The proper shipping name for UN 2900 is “INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCE, AFFECTING
ANIMALS ONLY”.

Assignment to UN 2814 or UN 2900 shall be based on the known medical history and
symptoms of the source human or animal, endemic local conditions, or

Professional judgment concerning individual circumstances of the source human or animal.

c) Category B, UN3373

An infectious substance which does not meet the criteria for inclusion in Category
A. Infectious substances in Category B shall be assigned to UN3373.

The proper shipping name of UN 3373 is BIOLOGICAL SUBSTANCE, CATEGORY B.