TNT said it successfully provided temperature-controlled transportation of doping samples at therecent 2007 FIFA Under -17 World Cup in Korea.
The express company was selected as the official provider to transport doping samples of thenational teams from 24 countries participating in the Junior World Cup from 18 August to 9September. Handled by TNT’s certified and trained team, the samples were transported to WADAlaboratory of Korea Science and Technology Research Institute following the matches which tookplace throughout Korea in eight host cities.
The contract required specialist express services as the samples are both time andtemperature sensitive, TNT said in a statement. To this end, it deployed its Clinical Expressservices – a dedicated suite of express solutions to ensure time-critical delivery of clinicaltrials and drugs. The samples were strictly sealed throughout the transportation process andmaintained at a temperature of two to eight degrees Celsius using TNT’s innovativetemperature-controlled packaging.
Lim Bee Koong, director of life sciences at TNT Asia, said: “We are proud to have beenselected by the FIFA U-17 World Cup organisation to handle their doping samples as it reflects TNT’s proven specialist capabilities to handle such sensitive shipments. Coupled with TNT’s extensivenetworks in Korea, we are well positioned to meet their specific stringent requirements for atime-definite and efficient express solution which is vital for ensuring the doping samples produceaccurate test results.”
TNT said it was among one of the pioneers in clinical trial logistics over a decade ago andhas had extensive experience in managing drug samples for international tournaments, such as the22nd SEA Games. In 2006, TNT Korea successfully transported frozen blood serums of entry horses forthe 15th Asian Games Doha 2006.
Korea’s recent burgeoning growth of its bio and pharmaceutical markets has also boosted thegrowth of similar markets in the region. This has in turn fuelled the industry’s need for TNT’ssuite of Clinical Express services in Asia, Europe and the United States to support thetransportation of blood and drug samples, cord blood, as well as DNA and stem cells. The companynow handles close to a million clinical samples globally each year.
On a worldwide level, TNT has a total of eight Regional Life Sciences Centres of Excellencelocated in Singapore, Japan, Switzerland, Scotland, Australia, China, USA and South Africa. Theseserve as nerve centres to handle temperature-controlled and time-sensitive goods.
