Laboratories

At the end of the at-home sample collection process, laboratories are typically responsible for the development of screening and testing assays which provide the end-user with their diagnosis. This is dependant on the safety of specimen packaging and transport

Accommodating the varied workflows of biological specimens gathered from self-collection kits can be difficult, with as many samples entering the laboratory as they are exiting. As well as diagnostic testing, laboratories in the healthcare arena work closely with clinical trials to assess the samples from study participants.

This means that the onward journey can be anything from safe sample disposal to stability storage for further specimen analysis. Regardless of the next steps, the transportation of the biological materials will likely occur as they leave the lab as well as when they enter it.

Laboratories are responsible for mitigating the risk of damage to the transported biological samples as well as the risk that those samples can have to couriers, handlers, receptive facilities and the environment if transported incorrectly.

They must also be simultaneously stringent with the ID and tracking of each biological sample to ensure a smooth diagnosis. Compliant and uniquely coded specimen packaging is pivotal in maintaining the integrity of these biological samples throughout their transportation journey.

Compliant Specimen Packaging and Transport Solutions

Biological samples that require diagnostic testing in a laboratory or clinical setting include blood, tissues, cells and other potentially infectious biological materials. Governing the transport of these biologics are UN3373 regulations.

Specimen packaging and transport are subject to numerous requirements. UN3373 sample transport packaging requires labs to package their samples with three components to ensure compliance. This includes a primary receptacle, a secondary receptacle, and a final outer packaging, incorporating leak-proof and absorbent material.

We recognise that the primary focus of a laboratory remains on immunoassay testing, pathology inspections, and delivering the crucial analysis that brings patients closer to diagnosis. RDi’s carefully crafted, compliant-developed sample transport packaging range is fit for multiple transport processes, including land, sea and air.

RDi are well versed in meeting specimen packaging and transport expectations, facilitating shipments made to and from a laboratory through innovative and slick primary, secondary and outer packaging products.

The RDi products range can be delivered on a cost-effective, consumable basis which aims to ensure laboratories have all necessary components to meet UN3373 specifications. This maintains strong transport links and avoids causing delays to the sample network.

Laboratories are under pressure to assess and integrate sustainability initiatives to reduce their environmental footprint. Medical and diagnostic labs choose RDi products for our unique approach to appropriately sized packaging, reductions in redundant plastic materials and our closed-loop automated manufacturing. All of which pinpoint us at the forefront of sustainable sample transport packaging production.

R&D services are also available with our team of experienced life science professionals. Here, bespoke sample transport packaging can become a uniquely designed product or kit that serves individual sample shapes, volumes, and materials before anything else.

Empowering laboratories to make data led decisions

RDi is fuelled by data and technology, and our mission is to seize the opportunities where our automated supply chain can produce data to shape the healthcare diagnostic journey.

Laboratories can benefit from our end-to-end sample collection and transport integration software, which links GPs from the patient to the laboratory. Allowing RDi to deliver analytical insights to various points of the transport journey can enable laboratories to evaluate their post-completion activity.

In a sector that is closely monitored for auditable and traceable testing results, the ability to participate in an automated transportation journey and sample collection line can allow laboratories to anticipate the influx of samples heading towards the lab.

In turn, this allows facility managers to pre-empt sample transport packaging requirements based on capacity and resource. Laboratories will no longer need to risk compliance or quality when sample volume increases.

Sample transport packaging that meets UN3373 specifications can also be paired with our automated production lines to allocate ID ranges to individual kits and sample transport packaging, including outer packaging envelopes. Registering a sample with the appropriate packaging to offer traceable testing results.

If you’re looking for an innovative sample transport packaging partner to accommodate your clinical or diagnostic testing needs, get in touch with RDi:

Supply Chain Management Services

RDi works with a variety of sectors across the healthcare and medical arena to facilitate their delivery of innovative, timely and compliant medical kit fulfilment to meet the demand of at-home sample collection, diagnostic supply chains and worldwide screening programs. Here are some of the sectors our supply chain management services are employed within: