Cold Chain Solutions

The safe transport of pharmaceuticals, biologics, lab specimens, and temperature-sensitive reagents is mission critical. Our end-to-end portfolio of custom cold chain solutions helps protect your shipments whether they're going across the country or across the world.

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Get it there at the right time and right temperature

Cold Chain Storage
Cold Chain Storage

Cold Chain Storage

Tap into our broad network of warehouses with refrigerated, frozen, and cryo storage to protect critical vaccines and biologics.

  • 11MM+ square feet of cGDP/cGMP compliant storage
  • Flexible and scalable footprint for cold (2°C to 8°C), frozen (-20°C to -80°C), and cryo storage
  • On-demand leased and monitored ULT freezer farms with walk in storage
  • Active and passive storage container options
  • Sustainable re-usable transportation packaging
  • ISO 9001, ISO 13485, and DDA (formerly VAWD) certifications as relevant

Learn more about UPS HealthcareTM Cold Chain Storage

Cold Chain Packaging

The first step to successfully transporting critical biologics is a packaging solution built around your temperature requirements and shipping route, distance, and time parameters. 

  • Custom Cold Chain Packaging solutions to meet your unique needs
  • Compliant packaging for 2°C to 8°C and -20°C to -80°C requirements
  • Network of UPS Healthcare re-icing stations (on-site dry ice manufacturing ensures a steady, cost-efficient supply for our clients)
  • Vaccine and lab specimen kitting services
  • Management of medical waste and needles return

Learn more about UPS HealthcareTM Cold Chain Storage

Transportation Management

We can work with you to develop and optimize a full end-to-end cold chain plan to transport your temperature-critical products and specimens in the most efficient and cost-effective way.

  • Cold chain design and solution optimization
  • UPS owned cold chain transportation vehicles
  • UPS managed certified cold chain transportation providers
  • Ground (Europe only), Parcel, Air Freight, and Ocean Freight cold chain shipping
  • Global re-icing stations with on-site dry ice production
  • Customized lane profiles, seasonal profiles, and lane validation
  • Priority shipping in the UPS network with UPS® Premier

Learn more about our Cold Chain Transportation Management capabilities

Visibility and Monitoring

You can gain a new level of control over shipments with a real-time insight into your payload throughout its journey.

  • Secure digital end-to-end visibility solutions
  • Single-use chemical temperature indicators
  • Real-time digital temperature probes
  • GPS and RFID tracking (location within 2 meters)
  • Real-time end-to-end visibility dashboard
  • Proactive mobile status alerts
  • Advanced monitoring and recovery with UPS Premier
  • Delivery verification with signatures saved for up to 7 years

Learn more about UPS® Premier

Global Quality Assurance

Quality Management System (QMS) designed to safeguard the integrity of your healthcare product via compliant operational processes, validated equipment and systems, executed by personnel who place Quality first.

  • One comprehensive QMS built on global quality standards and deployed across 60 facilities globally
  • Robust Quality Risk Management approach integrated into QMS to maintain compliance and drive improvements
  • A single global eQMS platform that is validated and 21 CFR Part 11 compliant
  • Compliance and operational decisions that are data driven
  • cGMP compliant facilities with validated environmental controls
  • Quality performance measures, metrics and trends
  • Extensive regulatory expertise
  • 230+ global healthcare QA/RA professionals

Learn more about UPS Healthcare Quality Assurance

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Let's Talk

We'd love to learn more about your business needs.

Contact us to learn how a customized logistics plan could help position you for success.

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