Shipping Laboratory and Biotech Samples with Dry Ice

Why air freight for lab and biotech samples?

A sample is almost never replaceable. A blood sample from a clinical trial, a cell culture after months of work, a patient sample for an urgent diagnosis: if it spoils in transit, there is no second copy you can just resend. This irreplaceability makes the logistics of samples fundamentally different from goods that you simply reproduce.

Moreover, samples often have a short stability window. Biological material degrades, even when frozen, and analysis must take place within a certain timeframe to be reliable. For central labs receiving samples from a wide network of hospitals, or for research groups exchanging samples between institutions, air freight is therefore not just the fastest option but the only responsible one. Speed and certainty here outweigh those required for any other type of goods.

Laboratory and biotech samples are often irreplaceable and extremely temperature-sensitive. Using dry ice at -78.5°C, we keep frozen samples stable; for the coldest applications, cryogenic transport is available. Speed and an unbroken cold chain are everything here.

Cold chain for samples

Samples travel at different temperatures depending on the material's requirements and how long it must remain stable. Most frozen samples are shipped with dry ice at -20°C to -80°C. For materials that must remain even colder, such as certain cell cultures or stem cells, we offer cryogenic transport with a dry shipper: a container holding liquid nitrogen in absorbent material so no free liquid leaks and it can be transported as non-dangerous.

The packaging here follows not food logistics but biological substance regulations. The standard is the three-layer UN3373 packaging for biological substance category B: a leak-proof primary container, an absorbent secondary layer, and a sturdy outer package. Infectious material is subject to stricter classes. We coordinate cooling method and packaging, since both must be correct to ensure the shipment travels safely and compliant.

Customs and regulations for samples

With samples, regulations focus less on import duties and veterinary inspection, and more on the nature of the biological material itself. Transport classification is key: diagnostic and non-infectious samples generally fall under UN3373 (biological substance category B), while infectious substances fall under UN2814 or UN2900, with heavier packaging and documentation requirements. The dry ice used for cooling is itself classified as UN1845.

There is also a layer that other frozen goods lack: origin and ownership of genetic material. Samples containing biological sources may fall under the Nagoya Protocol, which governs access to and benefit-sharing of genetic resources. Some shipments require import or export permits depending on the country and material. We handle the complete DGR classification, associated documents, and coordination with relevant authorities so an irreplaceable sample is not delayed by a mere formality.

• Clinical trial samples → central labs worldwide
• Research samples between universities and institutes
• Diagnostic material with short turnaround time