§ Mrs. BeckettTo ask the Secretary of State for Health(I) what evidence she has that human tissue and infectious material sent through the post has posed a health hazard; how many cases arose in the last year; and what the hazardous material was;
(2) what guidance she has on the packaging of human tissue samples and infectious material when sent through the post; and what status this guidance has.
§ Mr. SackvilleNo such cases were reported last year. There is a range of measures to safeguard against infection as a result of the postal transport of pathology specimens. There is no evidence that these measures are inadequate. The Post Office guide sets out the requirements under the Post Office Telecommunications Act, 1969–revised 1981–for sending specimens through the post, and carriage by rail or road is covered by new Health and Safety Executive regulations on the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous goods for carriage by road and rail, 1994. The transportation of certain pathogens listed in the Health and Safety (Dangerous Pathogens) Regulations 1981, all the provisions of which have been subsumed into the new Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1994, requires prior notification to the Health and Safety Executive which will notify the appropriate Health Minister. The Health and Safety Commission's health service advisory committee guidance on safe working and the prevention of infection in clinical laboratories 1991 refers to the procedures which laboratories should observe in dispatching material. In all work situations, the potential for exposure to infection from material either in transit or under examination has to be assessed under COSHH and the appropriate safe working procedures adopted.