{"operation":"document","citation":"03-0070","title":"Mildred Mitchell Bateman Hospital — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2003-04-18","effective_on":null,"summary":"03-0070 response to Mildred Mitchell Bateman Hospital concerning 173.199.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-03-0070.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-03-0070.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-03-0070","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2003/030070.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\n400 Seventh St., S.W.\nResearch and\nWashington, D.C. 20590\nSpecial Programs\nAdministration\nAPR 18 2003\nLaboratory Director\nMs. Gail Kelly, MT (ASCP)\nRef. No. 03-0070\nMildred Mitchell Bateman Hospital\n1530 Norway Avenue\nHuntington, WV 25705\nDear Ms. Kelly,\nThis responds to your March 6, 2003 letter requesting clarification on transporting diagnostic\nspecimens via dedicated courier under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR\nParts 171-180). Specifically, you ask what constitutes a \"dedicated courier\" under the HMR.\nAccording to your letter, your facility uses drivers that perform multiple duties. They transport your\nspecimens to a local hospital, and, later that morning the drivers may transport a patient to a group\nhome. You state that when your drivers transport specimens to local hospitals, they are dedicated to\nthat job. You also state that you were advised by this Office that your drivers would be considered\ndedicated as long as they are not doing anything else when they transport your specimens.\nDiagnostic specimens or biological products are excepted from the HMR when transported by private\nor contract motor carriers used exclusively to transport diagnostic specimens or biological products\n(e.g., in dedicated vehicles, mostly couriers who transport specimens for doctors, home health care\nproviders, hospitals, etc.). Medical or clinical equipment and laboratory products may be transported\naboard the same vehicle provided they are properly packaged and secured against exposure or\ncontamination. However, in order for your vehicle to be \"dedicated,\" patients would not be authorized\nto be transported in the same vehicle at the same time the specimens are being transported.\nI hope this answers your inquiry.\nSincerely,\nHilli\nDelmer F. Billings\nChief, Standards Development\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Standards\n030070\n(13.199\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\n04/03/2003\n07: 55\n5238362\nLABORATORY\nPAGE 02\nBoothe\n03-0070\nFile: 173.199\nMildred Mitchell Bateman Hospital\nLaboratory\n1530 Norway Ave\nHuntington, WV 25705\nMarch 6, 2003\nEdward Mazzullo\nDirector of HAZMAT Regulations\nDear Six,\nI would like clarification of the DOT regulation governing transportation of Diagnostic\nSpecitens by courier. The regulation specifies \"dedicated courier\". What constitutes a\ndedicated courier?\nIn our facility we have drivers that do multiple jobs. At 8 AM they may be taking our\nspecimens to a local hospital and at 11AM transport one our patients to a group home.\nI spoke to Arthur today and he said that our drivers would be onsidered dedicated as\nWhen they take are specimens they are dedicated to that job.\nhave clarification in writing to attach to my file.\nlong as they are not doing anything else when they transport our specimens. I need to\nOur FAX # is 304-523-8362 and phone # 304-525-7801 ext 317.\nThank you.\nGail Kelly, MT(ASCP)\nLaboratory Directox","truncated":false,"body_characters":2917}