Diagnostic or laboratory reagents on a backing — HTS 3822
Diagnostic or laboratory reagents on a backing, prepared diagnostic or laboratory reagents whether or not on a backing, whether or not put up in the form of kits, other than those of heading 3006; certified reference materials
Chapter 38 › Heading 3822
2026 HTS Rev 19 Synced Rules verified Operational
Written to help non-specialists understand this page. Rates, dates, and legal facts come from the official records above and on the linked source.
HTS heading 3822 is a broad product category for prepared diagnostic or laboratory reagents. It includes reagents placed on a backing, such as a strip or plate, and reagents presented alone or in kits. It also covers certified reference materials. Products that belong under heading 3006 are excluded, so the heading is not a catch-all for every medical or laboratory preparation.
To find the correct 8-digit HTSUS code, start with the product’s actual function, composition, and presentation. The heading’s subheadings generally divide products by what they are—such as a particular reagent or type of certified reference material—rather than by the seller’s marketing name. Review the full 8-digit descriptions and the relevant legal notes, and obtain customs-broker or classification advice when the product has multiple components or could fit more than one heading.
What to check
- Confirm that the product is a prepared diagnostic or laboratory reagent, a reagent on a backing, a kit, or a certified reference material.
- Check whether the product is excluded because it falls under heading 3006 or another more specific HTSUS heading.
- Document the active substances, matrix or backing, intended test or laboratory use, and physical form; these details often determine the subheading.
- Read every 8-digit option in the current HTSUS and compare its wording with the product’s formulation and packaging, not just its commercial name.
- For kits, identify each component and determine whether the tariff rules classify the kit as a whole or require separate classification; ask a customs broker if uncertain.
HTS heading 3822 summary
Diagnostic or laboratory reagents on a backing is a 4-digit product category containing 5 published product-code lines in this snapshot. A heading does not carry one universal duty rate; classification must be narrowed to the line matching the product facts.
How to find your code in this category
A heading is a product category. To get the exact duty, narrow from this 4-digit heading to a sub-category (usually by material), then open the 8-digit code that matches your product.
Open any code in the tables below to see its exact duty rate, a duty calculator (enter your shipment value → estimated duty and landed cost), the rate-change history chart, and the country-by-country breakdown (including Section 301/232 add-on duties).
Why you have to click in: a single category can contain products with very different duties. The rate depends on the specific product — its material and construction — and on the country of origin, and those only get pinned down at the 8-digit code level. That is why this page points you to codes instead of showing one rate for the whole category.
Product codes & duty rates
👇 Each row is a specific product code — click a blue code to open its full page with exact duty rates by country, the rate-history chart, and a duty calculator. 👉
| Code | Description | General (MFN) | Special | Column 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3822.11.00.00 👉 | For malaria | Free | — | Free |
| 3822.12.00.00 👉 | For Zika and other diseases transmitted by mosquitoes of the genus Aedes | Free | — | Free |
| 3822.13.00.00 👉 | For blood-grouping | Free | — | Free |
| 3822.19.00 👉 | Other | Free | — | 25% |
| 3822.90.00.00 👉 | Certified reference materials | Free | — | 25% |
"Special" shows the free-trade-agreement rate; open a code to see exactly which countries qualify.
Common questions
What products fall under HTS heading 3822?
Diagnostic or laboratory reagents on a backing, prepared diagnostic or laboratory reagents whether or not on a backing, whether or not put up in the form of kits, other than those of heading 3006; certified reference materials. To classify a specific item you must pick the matching sub-category and 8-digit code above; the right choice usually depends on the material and construction of the product.
How do I choose the right code within this category?
Start from the sub-categories (typically divided by material—for example cotton versus man-made fibers), then open the active 8- or 10-digit code that matches the product. When unsure, a licensed customs broker or a CBP binding ruling can confirm the classification.
Reference information only, not customs, legal, or classification advice. Confirm the current code and rate against the official HTS before you import.