Review Shipment Requirements and Distribution/Redistribution Processes
Step 2: Review Shipment Requirements and Distribution/Redistribution Processes
Ensure safe and reliable shipment of blood components and PPRP by following standardized courier practices and validated shipping procedures. This step guides hospitals in selecting appropriate courier systems, using provincially validated containers, and maintaining temperature control during transport—especially in extreme weather. It also highlights the need for site‑specific operational verification and regular temperature checks to meet accreditation and safety requirements. Together, these processes help support consistent, compliant, and efficient distribution/redistribution across all participating hospitals.
Hospital Couriers
- Use established corporate/intra-organization courier systems to support distribution of blood components and products. Existing routes that carry documents or samples can also transport shipping containers between sites.
- If no courier system exists for a group of hospitals, investigate potential distribution processes.
- When redistribution is facilitated by ORBCoN/FCRP, courier costs are covered by ORBCoN or FCRP.
Shipping Container Validation Results
J82, E38 and Credo ProMed™ containers have been validated provincially for blood components and PPRP. Pre-conditioning of icepacks/gel packs per the validation protocol maintains acceptable temperatures for specified durations. Credo ProMed™ is the current name of the Golden Hour MTS 24-2 container.
Table 1- Shortest Time J82 Shipping Container Maintained Acceptable Temperature in various ambient temperature conditions
| Payload | Acceptable Shipping Temp | <-30°C | 1 – 6°C | 19- 25°C | > +30°C |
| 1-8 RBCs | 1°C -10°C) | 3 hours | 24 hours | 12 hours | 8 hours |
| 1 – 8 PPRPs | 2°C -25°C | 2 hours | 24 hours | 24 hours | 24 hour |
Table 2 – Shortest Time E38 Shipping Container Maintained Acceptable Temperature in various ambient temperature conditions
| Payload | Acceptable Shipping Temp | <-30°C | 1- 6°C | 19 -25°C | > +30°C |
| 1 – 6 Plts | 20°C -24°C | 2 hours | 5 hours | 24 hours | 9 hours |
| 1 – 8 PPPs | 19°C -25°C | 24 hours | 24 hours | 24 hours | 6 hours |
Table 3: Overall average temperature in laboratory validation test for Golden Hour MTS 24-2 ([KS1] [KS2] Credo ProMedÔ)
| Payload | Average Temperature for payload at -20°C | Average Temperature for payload at 4°C | Average Temperature for payload at 22°C | Average Temperature for payload at 40°C | |
| 1 RBC unit | 5.5 C | 5.4 C | 5.0 C | 5.4 C | |
| 4 RBC units | 5.6 C | 6.5 C | 4.7 C | 5.1 C |
Due to the limited time the containers maintain acceptable temperatures in extreme ambient temperatures, it is recommended that the blood components and PPRP be transported within the confines of the vehicle’s interior, where ambient temperatures are more controlled. Facilities should confirm with their courier providers that the shipping container can be placed inside the vehicle’s passenger area.
*Note: When extreme temperatures are forecasted, it is recommended that redistribution is delayed until acceptable ambient temperature is anticipated.
[KS2]Or should we set up table 3 in the same format as table 1&2