Shipping and Packing

Submitting Specimens to CDC

CDC does not accept routine shipments on weekends or holidays. Please make sure packages arrive Monday – Friday. For additional shipping and packaging instructions regarding each test order, reference the Test Directory.

Shipping Address:

Routine/reference specimen(s):

Point of Contact
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
RDSB/STATT
ATTN: Laboratory (optional)
1600 Clifton Road, NE
Atlanta, GA 30333
PI’s Telephone Number

Study specimens:

Point of Contact
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
ATTN: Laboratory / Study Name
1600 Clifton Road, NE
Atlanta, GA 30333
PI’s Telephone Number

Specimens to multiple CDC laboratories:

RDSB/STATT
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
ATTN: Laboratories
1600 Clifton Road, NE
Atlanta, GA 30333
404-639-3931

Arbovirus or Bacterial Vector-borne Disease Specimens:

Point of Contact
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Arbovirus Diagnostic and Reference Laboratory
3156 Rampart Rd
Fort Collins, CO 80521
Point of Contact’s Telephone Number

Point of Contact
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Bacterial Diagnostic and Reference Laboratory
3156 Rampart Rd
Fort Collins, CO 80521
Point of Contact’s Telephone Number

Dengue Specimens:

Point of Contact
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Dengue Branch
1324 Calle Cañada
San Juan, P.R. 00920-3860
Point of Contact’s Telephone Number

Please note: a person’s name and telephone number in the “ship to” address is required per the US DOT HazMat Regulations and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR). The Point of Contact can be acquired from test orders within the “Test Directory” section.

In addition, if submitting via CSTOR, please include “CSTOR” as part of the label.

The individual’s name is required on the first and/or top line of the address on Air waybills, e.g., FedEx, UPS, DHL, World Courier, etc.

It is the sender’s responsibility to minimize risk of shipping infectious substances through proper packaging and compliance with regulations. All specimens and infectious substances submitted to CDC laboratories for diagnostic or investigational purposes must be packaged and shipped in compliance with the IATA and US DOT 49 CFR Parts 171-185.

Shipping Documents

Shipping Specimens

Specimen Packing and Shipping Guidance, Infectious Diseases Laboratories [PDF – 7 pages] Criteria to properly ship biological specimens to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
International Airline Transportation Association (IATA) [PDF – 5 pages] Transport companies that ship by air must comply with IATA rules.
US Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) Mailability of Etiologic Agents.
U.S. Department of Transportation (HazMat Regulations) Rules of the road (and air) for the United States.

Select Agents

Federal Select Agents Program Transferring select agents.

Imports

Importation of Etiologic Agents of Human Disease For transporting human biologic agents into the United States.
Importation of Etiologic Agents of Livestock, Poultry and Other Animal Diseases For transporting animal or plant biologic agents into the United States.

Exports

Bureau of Industry and Security Information on what is an export, what can be shipped from the US and what shipments require an export license.

Imports and Exports

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regulations covered by the US Endangered Species Act and applications for permits to transport protected species within the US and internationally.