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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, UN 2814

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 or animals.

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, UN 2900

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

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