reducing the cost of shipping blood samples: strategies, guidelines, and solutions

In healthcare and clinical research, transporting blood samples from the point of collection to analytical laboratories can be both logistically challenging and financially burdensome.

As studies expand and decentralized or remote clinical trials become more prevalent, the costs associated with sample transportation can increase rapidly.

From the moment liquid blood samples are collected from a patient or study subject, the samples must be packaged, stored, and shipped in a cold environment to prevent the development of bacteria.Liquid ("wet") blood samples must be refrigerated at specific temperatures to remain viable. The current standard for handling frozen plasma is to pack it with dry ice in specialized insulated containers.

Because blood samples may be infectious, packaging of liquid blood samples must conform to international standards.

Fortunately, a methodological shift—such as adopting microsampling and dried blood sample technologies—can help streamline operations and significantly reduce expenses.

Understand Packaging/Transport Guidelines for Blood Samples

The cost of blood sample shipping containers must be considered and calculated from a clinical perspective. The high cost of cold shipping biological samples can increase the overall costs of a clinical trial or other research study. 

To eliminate the potential for contamination, the integrity of liquid blood samples must be maintained. Liquid blood samples transported from the sampling location to a laboratory for processing and analysis are very sensitive to temperature fluctuations and must be frozen as quickly as possible.

Since dry ice and protective packaging add significantly to the weight of each shipment, the cost to transport increases accordingly. Moreover, because of the limited effectiveness of dry ice and to reduce excess handling, priority overnight shipping is the usual method of transport and delivery.

Regardless of format, blood samples—particularly liquid ones—must be packaged following strict international and carrier-specific regulations.

The High Cost of Shipping Frozen Blood Samples

The cost of blood sample shipping containers must be considered and calculated from a clinical perspective.

A study performed by bioMontr in 2012 showed the average cost of shipping 1 ml of frozen blood samples by FedEx Overnight Priority from Georgia to California, Massachusetts, District of Columbia, Illinois, and Colorado was $178.62.

The cost of international sample shipments to China, India, United Kingdom, and Brazil averaged $482.51.

Unfortunately, while many budget-strapped researchers would welcome the opportunity to reduce the cost of shipping frozen blood samples, the fact remains that liquid blood samples require cold chain shipping to protect the specimens from excessive exposure.

Shipping Blood Samples FedEx: What You Need to Know

FedEx and other carriers mandate the correct labeling and handling of specimens containing infectious substances or those shipped with dry ice.

If dry ice is used, it must be placed between the secondary and outer container and the package must be properly labeled with hazard symbols and vented to prevent pressure build-up.

• UN Guidelines: The United Nations has established protocols for packaging biological materials to prevent leakage, breakage, or contamination during transport.
• FedEx Regulations: When shipping blood samples via FedEx, especially frozen samples, the primary container must be watertight and securely sealed. This container must then be enclosed within a secondary leakproof container (such as a plastic screw-top canister or sealed bag), surrounded by absorbent material to cushion against shock or leakage.

In contrast, dried blood samples collected with Mitra devices can usually be shipped without dry ice and in standard envelopes, significantly reducing time, labor, and materials required for shipping compliance.

Advantages of Microsampling in Shipping Logistics

• Reduces dependency on cold-chain infrastructure.
• Avoids classification as hazardous material.
• Enables cost-effective global sample transport.
• Offers longer sample stability during transit.

Microsampling as a Cost-Effective Alternative

Microsampling devices, such as the Mitra® device that utilizes VAMS® technology, enable the collection of small, precise blood samples that dry quickly.

A microsample can be shipped in a sealed foil specimen bag. Including a packet of desiccant inside the specimen bag with the samples is recommended to help keep them dry during transit. The specimen bag can be placed inside a secondary watertight mailing envelope for additional protection.

These dried samples eliminate the need for refrigeration or dry ice, allowing them to be shipped as non-hazardous materials through standard postal or courier services. As a result, packaging and transportation costs are significantly reduced.

In contrast, traditional phlebotomy blood draws involve tubes of liquid blood that require refrigeration or freezing, necessitating insulated containers and dry ice for shipping. Dried microsamples, on the other hand, are stable at ambient temperatures and can be conveniently mailed in standard padded envelopes.

Calculate the Savings from Shipping Dried Microsamples

Dried blood microsamples can be shipped in ambient temperatures without harm.

The study by bioMontr also identified the FedEx Priority Shipping costs for shipments of dried blood spot (DBS) cards and other microsampling technologies.

For those U.S. destinations, the average shipping cost per package was $11.20; the average shipment to the international destinations was $113.34.

Shipping dried blood versus frozen blood samples saved 94% for domestic shipping and 77% to/from international destinations.

Dried Blood Samples Save Time and Money

The cost of a single clinical trial for drug development is estimated to be roughly $2.6 billion. As research and medical costs continue to rise globally, researchers and clinical trial sponsors are actively seeking ways to reduce costs.

Being able to ship blood and store blood samples with fewer handling requirements is a huge benefit to the shipment of blood samples.

The millions of dollars saved by implementing remote specimen collection and dried blood sampling can reallocated toward other needs within a research study or clinical trial.

For many studies that utilize dried blood microsampling, study participants can use microsampling devices to self-collect blood samples at home. They place their samples inside the provided packaging to mail their samples to the lab from the nearest mailbox.

Lower Costs with Dried Capillary Blood Sampling

Shipping blood samples for lab analysis doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. With microsampling innovations, researchers and clinicians can reduce overhead, maintain sample integrity, and ensure compliance—all while making sample collection more patient-friendly.

• Transitioning to dried blood microsampling represents a sustainable and cost-efficient shift in clinical workflows.
• The packaging and shipment of dried blood microsamples are far simpler than transporting liquid blood samples. 

Image Credits: Shutterstock, Trajan, Neoteryx