14th September 2026
Revised guidance for suspected viral haemorrhagic fever
Status: UK health and laboratory guidance, updated 9th September 2026; it does not amend ADR or IATA classification rules or introduce a new transport transition period. The revision replaces the previous 2015 ACDP guidance.
For relevant hospital and laboratory clients, the guidance calls for Category A or B specimen-courier arrangements to be determined with specialist advice according to the likelihood of a hazard-group-4 pathogen. Confirmed VHF patient waste is treated as Category A; where waste from an at-risk patient cannot safely be held pending results, the guidance also calls for Category A treatment. Off-site disposal should be risk-assessed with advice from the on-site dangerous-goods adviser and coordinated with a suitably licensed contractor. These are operational expectations within the health guidance, not permission to bypass the applicable transport regulations.
For relevant hospital and laboratory clients, the guidance calls for Category A or B specimen-courier arrangements to be determined with specialist advice according to the likelihood of a hazard-group-4 pathogen. Confirmed VHF patient waste is treated as Category A; where waste from an at-risk patient cannot safely be held pending results, the guidance also calls for Category A treatment. Off-site disposal should be risk-assessed with advice from the on-site dangerous-goods adviser and coordinated with a suitably licensed contractor. These are operational expectations within the health guidance, not permission to bypass the applicable transport regulations.