Transport is the weakest link in the chain for samples, and preparation and packaging are absolutely essential. The triple system of international acceptance remains the benchmark to beat:

• Primary container: A sealed, leak-proof tube or vial.

• Secondary container: A sealed, leak-proof bag or rigid container packed with absorbent material.

• Outer packaging: A rigid, insulating box to protect against shocks and temperature fluctuations.

Ideally, best practice also includes:

• Temperature monitoring with calibrated data loggers.

• Shock absorption by cushioning materials within packages.

• Full documentation, like permits, customs documentation, and full contact details of all parties interested.

Taken together, these steps create a protective cocoon for any specimen along its journey.

Temperature control in transit is probably the largest hurdle facing specimen transport. The risk of deviation is high during local delivery within a city or on an international flight. The most effective ways of limiting those risks are by preplanning routes and choosing the fastest carriers. Some have found that it is better to ship earlier in the week to prevent weekend hold-ups. 

Increasingly, laboratories and their suppliers are putting live monitoring systems in place that track GPS location and internal temperature in real time. Another useful practice is preparing the receiving team and storage equipment in advance. When staff are ready to accept and place specimens directly into controlled environments on arrival, transfer times are reduced and sample integrity is better protected. All these combined work together for efficient specimen transport solutions that make materials viable from the point of origin to the point of destination.

Legislation on the transportation of biological samples also includes paperwork as much as packaging. Compliance with standards such as IATA Packing Instructions 650 that cover infectious materials and diagnostic samples is required. Within the European Union, ADR regulations covering the highway transport of hazardous goods must also be complied with. Laboratories must further ensure that GxP records are maintained, thus rendering each handling and storage stage traceable. Accurate and detailed documentation does more than satisfy regulators, it provides researchers with confidence that their samples have been handled appropriately.

At Restore Harrow Green, we embed these requirements into every project. Our approach is supported by dedicated services such as our biobanking facilities, which ensure controlled storage environments, and our expertise in laboratory relocations, where compliance and documentation are critical. By combining regulatory adherence with careful planning, we ensure every sample remains safe, traceable, and auditable.

Behind each successful biological material transport is a well-trained and competent team. Staff must understand blood sample transportation guidelines and be able to apply them with confidence.

They need thorough knowledge of PPE use and biosafety procedures that reduce exposure risks. Training should also prepare them to respond calmly and correctly in the event of incidents such as container breaches.

Managing temperature excursions is another crucial skill. Teams must recognise when corrective actions are appropriate and when a sample can no longer be considered viable.

Finally, safe disposal practices must be ingrained so that hazardous biological materials are never mishandled. At Restore Harrow Green, our laboratory relocation experts and ADR-certified drivers receive ongoing training to ensure they remain aligned with evolving requirements in biological sample transport. If your business requires specialist support with biological sample storage or transport of biological samples and regulations, find out about our biobanking solutions today./

Biological research is forward-looking by nature, and the management of samples should reflect that same long-term perspective. Sustainability of biological sample management is becoming a priority for laboratories across the globe. Energy-efficient freezers reduce operational costs as well as environmental impact. Shared facilities for biobanking minimise duplicated infrastructure while also guaranteeing controlled storage conditions. Packaging is another area where improvement can be made, as reusable or recyclable packaging is chosen wherever safety is not compromised. These actions guarantee that the activity of scientific research is compatible with overall environmental goals, so that laboratory routine also contributes to long-term sustainability.