FedEx launches Deep Frozen Shipping Solution for temperature-sensitive healthcare products

Jan 24 2011

FedEx Corp. today announced the launch of FedEx Deep Frozen Shipping Solution, which offers an innovative end-to-end service for the shipping of temperature-sensitive healthcare products around the world. The new offering is an important component of the broader FedEx HealthCare Solutions portfolio of services for customers in the life sciences and biopharma industries.

The solution uses liquid nitrogen dry vapor technology that maintains a temperature of below -150 degrees Celsius for up to 10 days using the CryoPort Express® Dry Shipper. Unlike dry ice, this technology is classified as non-hazardous, which eliminates the complexities associated with being classified as dangerous goods. In addition, the overall process is simple. Customers place orders online through a customized FedEx portal. FedEx provides the pre-conditioned container to the customer to load their temperature-sensitive product. FedEx then delivers the container to its final destination while actively monitoring the shipment and intervening if needed during transit. Finally, FedEx picks up the container and returns it for refurbishing.

"The FedEx Deep Frozen Shipping Solution combines innovative dry vapor technology with the reliability of FedEx logistics management to provide customers with the highest level of integrity and security for their high-value frozen shipments worldwide," said Raj Subramaniam, senior vice president of Global Marketing for FedEx. "It is truly a complete solution that enhances the current services we provide our healthcare customers, giving them an even greater peace of mind."

Customers involved with clinical trials, diagnostics, biotechnology or manufacturing of pharmaceuticals will benefit from the solution with the following features and benefits:

• Up to 10 days of holding time (<-150C) to support complex international moves
• Elimination of dry ice, removing the need to re-ice shipments or purchase, inventory or manage insulated boxes
• No need to train personnel on handling hazardous materials
• Reduced environmental impact since the non-dangerous goods container is recycled and liquid nitrogen evaporates harmlessly
• Proactive monitoring and intervention from origin to destination, providing visibility to the shipments via the FedEx Priority Alert(SM) service

"We have heard from customers that they want a simpler alternative for shipping temperature-sensitive products that eliminates the complexities involved with dry ice," said Carl Asmus, vice president of International Market Development for FedEx.

The FedEx Deep Frozen Shipping Solution is classified under the International Air Transport Association (IATA) as a non-hazardous dry shipper and meets the requirements to handle both infectious substances (UN3373) and non-infectious clinical samples.

"This new service is not only non-hazardous, but it also reduces environmental impact through the use of a recyclable container and liquid nitrogen, which evaporates harmlessly. We have found that customers appreciate that it is an end-to-end solution that is backed by the FedEx level of quality they have come to appreciate from our HealthCare Solutions team," Asmus added.