Biological samples stored cryogenically eventually need to move. From the collection clinic to the central lab, from a biobank site to a research facility, from manufacturer to transplant unit. Each of those movements is a risk — and that risk almost always lies not in the equipment itself, but in the temperature documentation and the chain of custody.
Dry shippers solve the core problem of cryogenic transport: they allow shipment at –196°C without free liquid nitrogen. That makes them IATA-compliant for air freight. What makes them a validated transport solution is considerably more than the hardware.
A dry shipper — also called a vapor shipper or cryogenic transport dewar — is an insulated container filled with an absorbent material (zeolite or foam) that absorbs liquid nitrogen. During transport it contains no free LN₂, but maintains temperatures of –190°C to –196°C for days to weeks.
Advantages over standard cryogenic vessels:
Limitations:
Cryogenic samples transported by air fall under IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR). The relevant points:
The Consarctic® ASR+ series meets all IATA requirements for cryogenic air freight transport.
The Consarctic® ASR+ series is designed specifically for validated cryogenic sample transport:
A dry shipper is just the tool. Validated cryogenic transport includes:
Protocol: For what payload and transport duration is the dry shipper qualified? At what ambient temperatures?
Documentation: Who packed the sample? When? With what starting temperature? Which location in the dry shipper?
Data logger review: After arrival, the temperature report must be read out and archived — for GMP documentation, regulatory submission, and liability purposes.
Chain of custody: Who received the container and when? Are all handover protocols complete?
Consarctic® provides complete validation documentation for its ASR+ dry shippers, along with staff training for shipping personnel.
A standard cryogenic vessel contains free liquid nitrogen and is not approved for passenger air transport (free LN₂ is classified as dangerous goods). A dry shipper contains LN₂ in absorbed form — no free liquid, IATA-compliant, tilt-safe. It is suitable for validated cryogenic shipment by air and ground.
Depends on model, payload, and ambient temperature. Typical hold times: 5–21 days. The Consarctic® ASR+ series is available in several sizes with product-specifically validated hold times.
For pharmaceutical products and ATMPs: yes. Every transport step is part of GMP documentation and must be supported by temperature records and chain-of-custody protocols. The ASR+ data logger provides this documentation automatically.
Yes. The ASR+ series is suitable for transport of autologous and allogeneic cell therapies. The integrated data logger documents the temperature chain without gaps — a requirement of GMP Annex 13 for ATMP transport.
A validated system: qualified dry shipper (e.g., ASR+) + integrated data logger + documented loading protocol + chain-of-custody documentation + temperature review on arrival. Consarctic® supplies the complete system and the associated documentation.
Transport is the most vulnerable point in cryogenic sample logistics — the moment when a sample leaves the controlled environment of the laboratory. A dry shipper with a data logger and validated protocols is the only reliable answer to that risk.
The Consarctic® ASR+ series is the solution for facilities that need to operate cryogenic cold chains without temperature excursions and with complete documentation.