Insulated packaging
Vacuum-insulated panels and liquid refrigerant packs help the "Golden Hour Platelet Shipper" triple the length of time contents
remain at the proper temperature.
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Sensitive products generally require specialized packaging that may also include provisions for ice, dry ice, or gel packs.
One new option designed for blood-platelet shipments features vacuum-insulated panels and liquid-refrigerant packs to maintain
the US Food and Drug Administration's required temperature range of 20–24 °C for two days in both summer and winter conditions.
The result is a shelf life that is at least three times that achieved with traditional insulated shippers ("Golden Hour Platelet
Shipper," Minnesota Thermal Science, Plymouth, MN).
A prequalified insulated shipping container maintains a temperature range of 2–8 °C for 24 h and conforms to summer and winter
weather shipping-condition requirements set by the International Safe Transit Association (ISTA, East Lansing, MI) in its ISTA 7d standard. For more stringent applications, 48-, 72- and 96-h versions are available ("TimeSaver
24," TCP Reliable, Edison, NJ).
Another prequalified thermal shipper capable of maintaining 2–8 °C conditions combines polyurethane construction with refrigerants
to provide protection for as many as five days and a 2744-in.3 payload ("Large-Capacity KoolTemp GTS-120" insulated container, Cold Chain Technologies, Holliston, MA).
To minimize environmental impact and reduce waste, Talecris Biotherapeutics, Inc. (Research Triangle Park, NC) specifies a shipping container that combines a recyclable corrugated box with interior insulation
panels made of several natural minerals that are heated, spun into a fiber, and encapsulated in biodegradable plastic. "The
integration of 'Control Temp Blue' containers into our supply chain will enhance the integrity of our products and minimize
any environmental impact from packaging and shipping," says Jim Bacon, director of global demand planning and customer operations
at Talecris. Besides the environmental benefits, the new containers offer longer temperature maintenance per inch of insulation,
enhanced cushioning, and shock protection for Talecris's glass-packed products ("Control Temp Blue" container, R.N.C. Industries, Inc., Norcross, GA).
Several firms offer insulated bags that maintain product temperature for several hours. Generic insulated medical pouches
rely on a three-layer structure consisting of reflective film, polyethylene foam, and food-grade film. The pouches are available
in five stock sizes ranging from 12 X 10 in. to 21 X 21 in. This construction also blocks potentially damaging ultraviolet
light. Custom designs of the washable, reusable, and recyclable bags can be printed in 10 colors. For added protection, a
gel pack can be built into the bag ("Medtraveller" thermal bags, Coldkeepers, LLC, Thomasville, GA).
Another supplier of insulated bags and pouches recently installed a production machine that handles narrow webs of material
to meet rising demand for smaller sizes. Bags and pouches are not only certified to be made of food-grade materials, but also
provide unit-level traceability because each one carries a unique identification number ("Criomed" and "Criomed Plus" insulated
bags, Termika US, Roswell, GA).
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