Which practice is true regarding handling SCI materials before courier handoff?

• A. SCI material must be double wrapped prior to handing to the courier
• B. SCI material must be sealed in wax before handoff
• C. SCI material must be destroyed before handoff
• D. SCI material can be handed off unprotected to trusted couriers

Answer: (A)

Protecting SCI during transport requires proper packaging before any handoff. The best practice is to double wrap the SCI material prior to handing it to the courier. This provides an extra layer of protection so that, even if the outer container is compromised or damaged, the inner contents remain secure and hidden, reducing the risk of inadvertent disclosure and helping preserve the chain of custody. Double wrapping also aids in tamper resistance and clearly signals that the material is sensitive.

Wax sealing isn’t the standard requirement for SCI handoffs, and destroying the material before transfer would defeat the purpose of safeguarding and the handoff process. Similarly, handing off unprotected to trusted couriers violates established protection procedures, since the security of the transport relies on proper packaging and controlled handling, not trust alone.