Which statement best describes the proper classification for a tissue sample used in HLA typing when shipped on dry ice by air via FedEx?

• A. It Must Be Transported by Ground Only
• B. It Should Be Classified as an Exempt Human Specimen
• C. It Requires a Full Hazard Declaration
• D. It Must Be Accompanied by a Category A Labeling

Answer: (C)

When dry ice is involved in an air shipment, the material is treated as a dangerous good. Dry ice (UN 1845, Class 9) must be documented for air transport, so a full Shipper’s Declaration for Dangerous Goods is required. This declaration provides the exact shipping name, UN number, hazard class, packing group, and quantity, ensuring the carrier can handle and transport the shipment safely. The exemption for Exempt Human Specimens would not apply here because the presence of dry ice moves the shipment into a dangerous goods category. Category A labeling is reserved for infectious substances, which isn’t assumed for a tissue sample used in HLA typing unless it actually contains an infectious agent. Ground-only would not govern this scenario since the shipment is by air. So the best description is that it requires a full hazard declaration.