USPS Packaging Instruction 6E | Postal Explorer

USPS Packaging Instruction 6E

Used Health Care Products

“Used health care product” means a medical, diagnostic, or research device or piece of equipment, or a personal care product used by consumers, medical professionals, or pharmaceutical providers, that does not meet the definition of a diagnostic specimen, biological product, regulated medical waste, or sharps waste, is contaminated with potentially infectious body fluids or materials, and is not decontaminated or disinfected to remove or mitigate the infectious hazard prior to transport.

Proper Shipping Name

Not applicable.

Mailability

International Mail: Prohibited.
Domestic Mail: A used health care product:

Known or reasonably suspected to contain a Category A material is not mailable.
Not suspected to contain infectious material or that is known, or suspected, to contain Category B infectious substances, and is being returned to the manufacturer or manufacturer‘s designee, is mailable with air transportation.

Required Packaging

Each used health care product must be drained of liquid to the extent possible and placed in a watertight primary receptacle designed and constructed to ensure that it remains intact under normal conditions of transport. For a used health care product capable of cutting or penetrating skin or packaging material, the primary receptacle must be capable of retaining the product without puncture of the packaging under normal conditions of transport.

Primary Receptacle

The primary receptacle must be capable of retaining the product without puncture of the packaging under normal conditions of transport.
Each primary receptacle must be placed inside a watertight secondary packaging designed and constructed to ensure that it remains intact under normal conditions of transport.
The primary receptacle must be marked with the international biohazard symbol shown in Exhibit 346.321.

Secondary Packaging

Each primary receptacle must be placed inside a watertight secondary packaging designed and constructed to ensure that it remains intact under normal conditions of transport.
The secondary packaging must also be marked with the international biohazard symbol shown in Exhibit 346.321.

Outer Packaging

A strong outer packaging that is capable of firmly and securely holding the primary receptacle(s) and cushioning material is required. Refer to 339.4.
The secondary packaging must be placed inside an outer packaging with sufficient cushioning material to prevent movement between the secondary packaging and the outer packaging. An itemized list of the contents of the primary receptacle and information concerning possible contamination with a Division 6.2 material, including its possible location on the product, must be placed between the secondary packaging and the outer packaging.

Marking/Documentation

Labels and markings must be placed on the address side of the mailpiece unless specified differently in 221.1 and 325.1.

A shipping paper and content marking on the outer packaging are not required.