Often, medical and biological samples are extremely fragile and can be contaminated very easily. They can also be degraded by heat or by exposure to air at room temperature for prolonged periods. In the pharmaceutical and medical industries packaging materials can be of extreme importance, and, in rare cases, they may even be a matter of life and death. Even when this is not so, transporting such items properly is a task that should be approached with the utmost care.
Of course, the packaging supplies used may have to do far more than keep contents at a stable low temperature and in one piece. Getting the sample to its destination is one key concern but, where biological matter is concerned, the safety of the people who are engaged with the transport process must also be considered. That means anyone who may handle the package and those who will be called upon to open it at the other end of the journey. Potential sources of infection and any toxic substances must be thought of as health and safety hazards and the risks appropriately managed.
Choosing the right packaging materials goes a long way towards mitigating the risks to humans and making sure the products get to the end of their journey safely as well. As any biologist or chemist might expect, there are strict regulations setting out transport methods for biological and medical items and the methods and materials that should be used to pack them.
Packing supplies, including labels and thermal insulation, can be obtained from specialist sources. Such companies are also in a good position to provide advice over which items fall into which regulatory categories, and how each one should be treated before and during transit. Two infectious substances, for example, may fall into two different categories and require different packaging.
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