Mailing Clinical Specimens Using Business Reply Mail

Clinical specimens that are not known, or reasonably believed, to contain an infectious substance (etiologic agent) are mailable when properly packaged as detailed in Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) C023.8.4.

Clinical specimens include materials such as urine, blood, and saliva samples being tested for medical reasons, drug programs, or insurance purposes.

Many commercial laboratories that test clinical specimens provide pre-addressed business reply mail (BRM) packaging to their clients. If a problem occurs with the packaging while the mailpiece is in the mailstream, the Postal Service will contact the BRM permit holder so the packaging deficiency can be promptly corrected.

When a BRM address format is used to send a clinical specimen to a laboratory for testing, a complete return address is not required. (The customer using the BRM to return a clinical specimen has little, if any, control over the packaging design.).

That’s because the BRM permit holder has designed the return packaging to the USPS specifications in DMM C023 and S922.

A complete return address is only required on regulated quantities of hazardous materials.

Under the U.S. Department of Transportation regulations in Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (49 CFR) 173.134(b), noninfectious clinical specimens are exempted from the requirements that apply to hazardous materials.

Questions about packaging for clinical specimens should be directed to the district manager of business mail entry.

— Mail Preparation & Standards

Labeling List Changes
Automation Rate Mailings and AADCs Letter-Sized Mailings

Effective January 7, 2001, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) L801 is corrected to show footnotes for four entries. These footnotes were left out of the printed version of DMM Issue 56. They will, however, be incorporated into the printed version of DMM Issue 57 and the March 8, 2001 update of the electronic DMM, available via the Postal Explorer Web site at http://pe.usps.gov

- Mail Preparations and Standards

New Handbook DM-110
Centralized Postage Payment (CPP) System for Periodicals Mail

A new Handbook DM-110, Centralized Postage Payment (CPP) System for Periodicals Mail, is now available.

It is designed as an internal document for postal employees in Business Mail Entry Units and for other personnel who have responsibilities for ensuring proper collection of postage for Periodicals mail submitted under the CPP system.

Handbook DM-110 defines the organizational responsibilities and reporting structures for the (CPP) system for Periodicals mail.

It will only be available in an electronic format on the USPS internal Web site. No hard copy will be printed or stocked at the Materials Distribution Center (MDC).

To view or print the electronic copy, access the USPS intranet Web site at http://blue.usps.gov [click on “Information,” then “Policies and Procedures, “then Handbook,” then either “By Document ID Number” or “By Title,” and then scroll down to Handbook DM-110].

— Business Mail Acceptance