What is the maximum total quantity allowed per primary receptacle when shipping liquid Category B Infectious Substances using Packing Instruction 650?

What is the maximum total quantity allowed per primary receptacle when shipping liquid Category B Infectious Substances using Packing Instruction 650?

• A. 50 mL
• B. 100 mL
• C. 500 mL
• D. 1 L

Answer: (D)

For liquid Category B Infectious Substances shipped under Packing Instruction 650, the primary receptacle may contain up to 1 liter. This limit is part of the triple packaging approach (primary, secondary, outer) designed to prevent leaks while allowing a practical amount of material for testing or verification. The other volumes listed are smaller than the maximum and would be acceptable, but they don’t represent the upper limit for a single primary container. Even when using a 1-liter primary, the package must still meet all PI 650 requirements for secondary containment, outer packaging, absorbents, leak-proof closures, and proper labeling.