A. Cold Chain refers to the process or products involved in shipping temperature-sensitive items from origin to destination while maintaining a stable environment within the cooler. This prevents spoilage of food and maintains the stability and efficacy of life-altering medications.

A. The four conventional temperature ranges are:​

Frozen/Dry Ice (<-20°C)​ Refrigerated (2-8°C)​ Ambient/Room Temp (15-25°C)​ Cryogenic/Liquid Nitrogen Frozen (>-80°C)

A. Temperature excursion occurs when a product that must maintain a specific temperature range falls below or exceeds that range. For example, if a product required to stay between 2°C – 8°C falls below 2°C or rises above 8°C, it results in a temperature excursion.​

A. Many factors are used to determine when dry ice should be used over frozen gel packs. Dry ice is one of the more costly options but offers the best duration. It sublimates up to 10 pounds per day depending on the ambient temperature and turns into carbon dioxide. Be cautious of trapped gases when opening the cooler.