The specimen cold chain is the process of monitoring the temperature control supply chain during the transportation of the specimen. The goal is to keep the specimen sample at the right temperature and deliver it properly without damage. This technique is widely used to transfer gametes, specimen samples, and vaccines from one place to another.
The biological specimens and vaccines are critical components and have medical surveillance activities. The samples can get damaged when exposed to sunlight, direct heat, and fluorescent light. Therefore, the specimen cold chain technology protects these specimens from damage.
Why Is Cold Chain Technology Essential for Specimen Protection?
The prime goal of implementing the specimen cold chain technology is to preserve samples during transportation. This is also implemented to prevent temperature fluctuation. The field sampling team generally uses these techniques for preserving samples.
● Ideally, lab teams use liquid nitrogen for storing the specimen. The Dryshipper is backed with specimens transported to the lab by keeping liquid nitrogen.
● Some field workers use ultra-low temperature freezers such as -80ºC. This is the easiest specimen cold chain technique to ensure that samples remain viable during the analysis stage in the laboratory.
● The cold chain also uses the cooler, dry ice, ice packs, ultra-low temperature, liquid nitrogen, and freezers to optimize the sample’s viability and pathogen testing.
Specimen Cold Chain Planning
There are a few steps to follow for specimen cold chain planning, which are as follows:
● What is the sample/specimen surveillance plan? Check what type of specimen cold chain technique is used for the plan? What kind of sample is the field team collecting? What would be the ideal temperature of the specimen for maintaining viability?
● Access to the condition and environment of the locality. Make sure to focus on long-term storage facilities? If the sampling activities are located in the local region, choose the appropriate cold chain method to maintain viability.
● Determine how to end the cold chain cycle and keep the specimen viable. However, if the team delivers the sample at a long distance, then the ultra-low temperature would be appropriate. This will help extend the cold chain technique, which is required to extend the laboratory work and samples viability.
● However, if the team is developing the technique without any pre-existing infrastructure, it is essential to follow the mapping of the appropriate specimen cold chain technology for sample collection.
● Determine the maximum time of the samples located outside of the cold storage. If the field activity is longer than five days, then choose the mobile cold storage that helps transfer the sample to the original destination.
● Establish the procedure for checking the specimen cold chain technique. This is also helpful in tracking the samples and keeping them viable. Recording and maintenance of the specimen become easy.
Bottom Line
Specimen cold chain technique is ideal for transferring the samples from one place to another. The procedure is applicable for that sample and vaccine with live elements and needs to maintain viability. The temperature fluctuation can affect the viability of the samples. Therefore, it is the right way to maintain their viability.
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