HEALTHCARE

By FedEx | First published: March 16, 2023    Updated: September 17, 2025

When it comes to shipping biological samples for clinical trials, every second counts. Find out how shipping innovations are delivering next-level control over transit times and temperature conditions.

• Biological samples are highly sensitive to time and temperature, requiring precise shipping conditions to arrive ready for analysis.
• Logistics providers like FedEx have developed shipping innovations to provide end-to-end security and visibility.
• With specialized packaging, cold-chain management, and real-time tracking solutions, you can protect sample integrity at every step.

Clinical trials demand strict controls at every step to safeguard patients’ well-being and produce reliable research data. But this need for safety and precision continues well beyond the clinical setting.

After obtaining biological samples – such as blood, tissue, or DNA – from trial participants, they need to make the perilous journey to a laboratory for testing. These delicate samples must be shipped safely across countries, continents, and changing environmental conditions without compromising their integrity.

That’s where dedicated logistics for biological samples comes in. With the right shipping innovations, logistics providers like FedEx can deliver biological samples at the exact speeds and temperatures required for clinical trial success.

The logistics challenges of shipping biological samples

Every minute counts when shipping biological samples internationally. With their short shelf life, they need to be stored and shipped under strict temperature controls. Even a single supply chain delay can damage the quality of these irreplaceable samples, setting a clinical trial back by months – or even years.

Asia Pacific (APAC) is rapidly becoming a global hotspot for clinical trials, with trial sites moving beyond major cities to remote, decentralized locations. This adds extra layers of logistics complexity, from challenging terrain to limited connectivity. Logistics companies need the agility to work around unexpected hurdles and keep biological sample shipments on track.

Shipping innovations that deliver next-level precision

At FedEx, we’ve developed a range of logistics solutions tailored to the rigorous requirements of healthcare and pharmaceutical businesses. Our FedEx Clinical Care solution combines our expedited shipping capabilities with validated packaging, cold chain, and clinical sample tracking services – ensuring safety and compliance from end to end.

Cold-chain packaging solutions are essential to keep biological samples in the right temperature range throughout the journey. FedEx offers advanced solutions like the Medpak VI°C, a high-performance reusable thermal packaging fitted with Vacuum Insulated Panels (VIP) and Phase Change Material (PCM). It’s able to maintain temperatures between 2°C and 8°C, or under -20°C, for up to 96 hours.

In case of delays, we can store biological sample shipments at our FedEx Life Science Centers. In APAC, we have facilities in Singapore, Japan, and Korea. These temperature-controlled storage facilities provide round-the-clock monitoring and comply with all relevant quality and regulatory requirements, safeguarding samples until they can continue their journey.

During transit, cold-chain monitoring helps to track shipments and manage disruptions. Next-generation sensor technology – such as FedEx’s SenseAware ID – is making it possible to accurately monitor not only a sample’s location but also its humidity conditions, light exposure, and whether it’s been dropped.

How to ship biological samples internationally

Ready to start shipping your clinical trial samples? Here are four key steps for a smooth shipping process:

1. Prepare your paperwork

Shipping biological substances across borders often involves complex paperwork. Depending on the destination, you may need permits or licenses to import or export biological materials. If your shipment is classified as Dangerous Goods Class 6.2 (Infectious Substances), you’ll need to prepare additional documents such as a shipper’s declaration.

Navigating these requirements can be challenging, but the right logistics provider can make the process easier. FedEx’s team of healthcare experts is here to guide you through customs compliance, product classification, and more, so your shipments stay on track.

2. Pick the right packaging

Does your biological sample need to be chilled, frozen, or kept at room temperature? Choosing the right packaging is essential to maintaining sample integrity throughout transit. To ship more sustainably, you can consider reusable packaging options as well.

FedEx Clinical Care offers specialized, IATA-compliant packaging solutions designed to protect temperature-sensitive shipments, ranging from ambient (25°C) to deep frozen (below -60°C).

3. Comply with labeling requirements

If your biological sample shipment is classified as dangerous goods, make sure to attach the correct hazard labels to your package. Packaging solutions that include dry ice also require a Class 9 label.

Whether you’re shipping by road or air, FedEx’s certified staff will inspect your package to confirm that all markings and labels comply with regulatory standards at both the origin and end destinations.

4. Track your shipment

As your precious cargo makes its way across borders, you can track its location and condition in near-real time with advanced monitoring and intervention solutions like FedEx Surround. Aside from offering end-to-end visibility, this service also allows for swift intervention in the event of unexpected delays or disruptions.

Check out this video to understand the journey of a typical biological sample shipment from origin to destination.

Delivering better health with better logistics

Just as clinical trials demand utmost precision to succeed, healthcare shipments require the highest level of care to maintain their integrity. At FedEx, we’re committed to ensuring that biological samples are delivered on time and in optimal condition, so you can stay focused on your life-saving work.

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Learn more about FedEx Clinical Care, or check out our healthcare shipping solutions.

FedEx Clinical Care service features may vary by location. Terms, conditions, and applicable laws and regulations apply.