FedEx is now offering healthcare customers a broader range of ‘deep-freeze’ transport anddelivery services for temperature-sensitive samples and specimens without using dry ice.
The company said it has rolled out new features for its FedEx Deep Frozen Shipping Solution thatoffer more options and broader access. The end-to-end service helps customers movetemperature-sensitive samples and specimens around the world using an innovative alternative to dryice. The FedEx Deep Frozen Shipping Solution uses a liquid nitrogen dry vapor technology thatmaintains a temperature of below -150 degrees Celsius for up to 10 days using the CryoPort ExpressDry Shipper.
According to FedEx, with the enhancements, customers will now have:
* The ability to ship dangerous goods in the dewar (vacuum flask)
* Options for domestic delivery that range from urgent to less critical
* Choices in dewar sizes: standard or large volume enhanced
* An improved, user-friendly ordering interface, powered by CryoPort, to meetcustomers’ shipping and reporting needs
* Automated, proactive notifications
* Later cut-off times for order processing
* Additional refurbishing stations in Europe and Asia
* More destinations covered by FedEx Priority Alert to assist in advance monitoring andintervention of shipments that might be delayed
“These new features provide our healthcare customers with even greater access to some of thelatest technology for shipping deep frozen items without dry ice,” said Carl Asmus, vice presidentof Market Development for FedEx. “This is just one more example of how the FedEx HealthCareSolutions team continues to innovate and look for opportunities to exceed our customers’expectations.”
The process for facilitating a deep frozen shipment is simple, according to thecompany. Customers place orders online through a customised FedEx portal and thepre-conditioned container is delivered to the customer to load their temperature-sensitiveproduct. FedEx then delivers the container to its final destination while actively providingadvance monitoring of the shipment and intervening if needed during transit. Finally, FedExpicks up the container and returns it for refurbishing.
Customers involved with clinical trials, diagnostics, biotechnology or manufacturing ofpharmaceuticals will continue to benefit from the current features of deep frozen that include:
* Up to 10 days of holding time (<-150C) to support extended international moves
* Elimination of dry ice, removing the need to re-ice shipments or purchase, inventory ormanage insulated boxes
* No need to train and certify personnel on handling hazardous materials
* Reduced environmental impact since the non-dangerous goods container is recycled and liquidnitrogen evaporates harmlessly
* Proactive monitoring and intervention from origin to destination
“The world of healthcare logistics is always evolving, and we are staying at the forefront ofinnovation to meet some of the unique needs of our customers,” said Tom Dale, director of FedExHealthCare Solutions.
The FedEx Deep Frozen Shipping Solution is classified under the International Air TransportAssociation (IATA) as a non-hazardous dry shipper and meets the requirements to handle bothinfectious substances (UN3373) and non-infectious clinical samples.
