Stem cell research has yielded exciting possibilities for medical treatments for hard-to-cure diseases and traumas. These days, it’s not uncommon for parents to decide to preserve a newborn baby’s cord blood through a cord blood banking company. This cord blood may then be used in the future if the child is diagnosed with an illness that stem cells could treat. However, transporting the cord blood to the “bank” isn’t exactly like mailing a letter. Here’s a quick look at how it’s done for best results.
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Requirements
After 9/11, the TSA significantly tightened controls on the transportation industry, with good reason. One of the new security requirements is that cord blood can only be shipped through a medical courier via a cord blood bank that is registered as a “known shipper” with the TSA. This means that before parents choose a cord blood bank, they must make sure it accepts deliveries from medical couriers.
Medical Couriers
It’s important to ship cord blood via a medical courier company in order to ensure the viability of the sample. After all, parents only have the opportunity to bank a child’s cord blood once. If that sample is compromised in transit, there is no second chance to secure another cord blood sample from the same child.
Temperature Requirements
Medical couriers understand the importance of shipping all samples according to their strict temperature requirements. For fresh cord blood, the temperature range at which samples remain viable is between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius. In addition to choosing a professional medical courier, parents can best ensure the viability of the cord blood by shipping the sample in a well-insulated transport container with a temperature logger that has been validated to IATA standards.
Medical facilities and labs throughout Arizona can rely on Xcel Delivery Services to provide prompt and professional medical courier services. Our logistics company prides itself on customizing each transport solution to suit the needs of our clients. You can call our friendly office staff in Tucson at (520) 355-4897 for more information about shipping medical supplies or samples.
