In order to ensure that samples are received unbroken and at the correct temperature
( 4° C plus or minus 2 degrees), the following guidelines should be followed.
Samples should be chilled to 4° C (+/- 2 degrees) before shipping or transport.
Each cooler should contain a temperature (temp) blank. A temp blank is a 500ml
plastic bottle filled with de-ionized water. This bottle should be packed in with samples as
close to the center of the cooler as possible in order to obtain a fair representation of
sample temperature upon laboratory receipt. Accutest will provide these temp blanks as
standard procedure.
Raw ice sealed in zip-loc bags is the preferred cooling material, taking up
approximately 25% of the cooler volume. Ice must be placed in sealed bags, since leakage
may wash off labels and trigger halting of shipment by commercial carriers.
Always place ice above and below samples, with packing material (usually bubble wrap) on
the bottom and top of the cooler as well, to prevent breakage.
Always seal the cooler with tape around the top-lid seams in order to retain coldness within.
Please keep in mind that the amount of ice being used should typically increase
in warmer months and decrease in colder months.
You will be contacted by phone regarding any samples received outside of the temperature criteria,
and asked if you want to proceed with the analysis. This may result in delays in starting the analysis,
which may negatively impact the turnaround and holding times.
