Vacuum insulated boxes provide the UK NHS Blood and Transplant with a transportation solution for blood components nationwide

VIPA International releases today a case study explaining how vacuum insulation panels (VIPs) help the UK Blood and Transplant Special Health Authority (NHS BT) supplying two million of blood units to hospitals in England and North Wales each year.

Transportation of temperature-sensitive and highly perishable goods like blood and blood components (platelets concentrates, frozen plasma, red blood cells, etc) are subject to strict thermal, health and safety transportation requirements to ensure their integrity throughout the transport chain before they get to the hospital.

Since 2009, the NHS BT is using boxes with VIPs installed in the box’s walls. These have proved to be cost efficient per use, simple to operate and carry, and suitable for short and long distances. Thanks to its low heat and cold losses, vacuum insulation panels preserve temperature-sensitive products over a range of extreme ambient conditions.

In addition, VIPs are much smaller in volume size which is a significant advantage in terms of price and ease of handling. Vacuum insulated boxes were hence the most appropriate solution available for the NHS BT to carry out their campaign: ‘help save life – give the gift of blood’. “We dedicate ourselves to saving and improving patients’ lives. That is why we needed to establish reliable and temperature controlled transportation solutions nationwide to guarantee blood arrives at the right temperature anywhere in the UK“, stated Philip Taylor, Senior Buyer Strategic Goods at NHS BT.