Doctors and patients all around the world rely on the safe and timely delivery of medical supplies, samples, and pharmaceuticals. If you own or manage a business that requires the shipment of medical cargo, then you need to partner with a delivery company that understands the unique needs of these sensitive items.
Shipping Medical Supplies
Medical supplies can include any medical-related items other than pharmaceuticals, samples, and equipment. Examples include bandages, glucose meters, syringes, gloves, and IV tubing. Some medical supplies are temperature-sensitive, and must be packaged and handled with special precautions. Since hospitals use up a fairly predictable amount of single-use medical supplies on a regular basis, these recipients often require scheduled, routed deliveries.
Shipping Pharmaceuticals
Recipients of pharmaceuticals are generally hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies. Patients may also have pharmaceuticals shipped directly to their doors, especially if they have limited mobility. Pharmaceuticals must be maintained within a certain temperature range throughout the shipping route. In previous years, pharmaceuticals were typically subject to cold-chain delivery, which meant a degree range of two to eight degrees Celsius. But today, a wider variety of products requires different temperature ranges. These include:
- Body temperature: About 37 degrees Celsius
- Controlled ambient temperature: 15 to 25 degrees Celsius
- Extremely cold temperatures: Negative 20 degrees Celsius
- Cryogenic temperatures: Negative 80 to negative 192 degrees Celsius
Shipping Medical Samples
Medical samples include blood, urine, and saliva samples being sent from a patient or hospital to a laboratory. Biological specimens, including clinical trial samples, must be treated with extreme care regarding the integrity of the packaging and the continuity of the temperature. Time is also a crucial factor, as some samples must be tested within a certain window of time.
The medical shipping services available from Xcel Delivery Services are fast, reliable, and cost-effective. Whether you need a one-time delivery or a daily route, we can customize your services to meet your needs. Call our office in Phoenix at (602) 368-1300 to request more information.
