What does Category A in TDG regulations cover?

Category A in Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) regulations specifically refers to specimens that pose a significant risk to humans or animals due to their infectious nature. This classification is established to ensure that materials that can cause serious health hazards are handled, stored, and transported with maximum safety protocols. This includes highly infectious agents like certain strains of viruses and bacteria that can lead to severe disease or impact public health.

The primary focus of Category A is on the potential threat these biological materials represent, necessitating strict compliance with safety regulations to prevent exposure or accidents during transport. Individuals handling Category A specimens must be equipped with the proper training and protective measures to mitigate risks effectively—underlining the importance of categorizing biological samples based on their potential hazards.

The other options refer to materials that either do not present a significant risk of harm or are least hazardous, hence falling under different categories in the TDG regulations. For example, non-infectious blood samples and standard biological waste do not pose the same level of threat as Category A materials, thus they are governed by different safety protocols. Likewise, safe and harmless materials are entirely outside the scope of concern for TDG regulations. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for ensuring proper safety measures and regulations in the transport of biological specimens.