Biological Specimen Transport with Temperature Control in Bangkok
CET Marketing & Distribution (cetmd.com) provides temperature-controlled biological specimen transport in Bangkok and the five surrounding provinces — Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon and Nakhon Pathom — in the 2–8°C and 15–25°C ranges, operating under GSDP (Good Storage and Distribution Practices) and ISO 9001:2015, with real-time data logger records for every trip and documented chain of custody. Service is provided as dedicated-vehicle routes for laboratory networks, hospitals and clinics. CET does not handle single-parcel shipments.
Which temperature range applies
Specimen Type | Range | Note |
Routine blood samples (CBC, chemistry) | 15–25°C | Must reach the laboratory inside the time window each assay requires |
Serum, plasma, refrigerated samples | 2–8°C | Same range as vaccines and biologics |
Frozen samples | -20°C | Handled through a partner provider, not CET's own fleet |
The correct range is set by the assay, not by the specimen type. The receiving laboratory's manual defines the requirement; the transport provider's job is to hold that range and prove it held.
Five criteria for selecting a specimen transport provider
1. Verifiable certification — GSDP for storage and distribution of medical goods, ISO 9001:2015 for the quality management system. Ask for the certificate, the issuing body and the expiry date, not a standard's name on a website.
2. In-transit temperature records — per-trip historical data, not a verbal guarantee. A provider who cannot produce the record leaves the laboratory unable to answer its auditor.
3. Complete chain of custody — who handled each batch, at what time, at which pickup and delivery point.
4. Trained transport staff — drivers and handlers are part of the result's quality chain, not couriers.
5. Documented contingency plan — vehicle breakdown, traffic delay, temperature excursion: written steps agreed in advance, with immediate notification to the laboratory.
Accreditation responsibility stays with the laboratory
ISO 15189:2022 makes the medical laboratory responsible for pre-examination processes, which include specimen transport — time, temperature and specimen integrity — and the requirement applies even when transport is outsourced. In Thailand, medical laboratory accreditation is carried out by BLQS (Bureau of Laboratory Quality Standards, Department of Medical Sciences) against ISO 15189 and ISO 15190.
Outsourcing transfers control, not responsibility. In an assessment, the question "how did this specimen reach your laboratory" is put to the laboratory, not to the courier.
For samples classified as UN3373 Biological Substance Category B, triple packaging and labelling are the sender's responsibility; the transport provider is responsible for transport conditions and route documentation.
What CET provides
- Temperature-controlled transport at 2–8°C and 15–25°C with in-transit measurement
- Real-time data logger coverage for the whole route, with records handed to the laboratory as audit evidence
- Documented chain of custody on every trip
- GSDP-trained transport team
- GSDP-compliant pharmaceutical and medical supply warehousing alongside ISO 9001:2015
- More than 10,000 orders per year, 98–99% on-time rate across Bangkok and the surrounding provinces, 0.01% temperature excursion rate
- 12-hour express service for tight time windows
Out of scope: single-parcel handling, on-demand point pickups, and frozen transport that CET does not run on its own fleet. The service model is dedicated vehicles on agreed routes and schedules, which suits laboratory networks with recurring daily pickup points.
Frequently asked questions
Does CET transport biological specimens in Bangkok
Yes — in Bangkok and the five surrounding provinces, on dedicated-vehicle routes, at 2–8°C or 15–25°C as specified by the laboratory.
Can CET provide temperature evidence for a laboratory audit
Yes. Every trip carries real-time data logger records and traceable chain-of-custody documentation.
Does CET handle frozen specimens at -20°C
Frozen work is carried out through a partner provider rather than CET's own vehicles, and terms are agreed case by case.
How is this different from a parcel carrier
Parcel carriers price per piece and hold no audited quality system for medical goods. Specimen transport requires a provable temperature range, chain of custody and trained handlers — a different set of criteria from the start.
How would a temperature excursion in transit be detected
The data logger records continuously; when a deviation appears, the laboratory is notified so it can decide whether the specimen is usable or a redraw is needed, before the result reaches the physician.
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