The 7 Most Common Mistakes When Shipping Samples on Dry Ice (and How to Avoid Them)
Shipping samples on dry ice seems simple, but in practice, things often go wrong. Whether it's blood samples, vaccines, lab supplies, or food, delays, damage, or customs issues can cost you a lot of money and reputation.
Fortunately, all these problems can be prevented – with the right system. In this blog post, you'll read about the 7 most common mistakes when shipping on dry ice and how to solve them via Iceworx.nl .
1. Using the wrong amount of dry ice
One of the biggest mistakes: too little or far too much dry ice. This can lead to thawed products or safety issues.
✅ Solution with Iceworx:
The platform automatically calculates how much dry ice you need based on airtime, product type and location.
2. Not using proper packaging
EPS boxes must be suitable for dry ice. Incorrect packaging can lead to CO₂ buildup, leakage, or damage to your samples.
✅ Solution with Iceworx:
You will immediately receive the correct EPS box including inner packaging, tested and ADR-compliant.
3. No UN1845 labeling
Dry ice is considered a "dangerous good" under IATA regulations. Shipments without proper labeling will be refused by carriers.
✅ Solution with Iceworx:
All labels, including UN1845 , are automatically generated and supplied.
4. No or incorrect documentation
A common mistake: no commercial invoice, incorrect HS codes, or missing MSDS. This causes customs delays or rejection.
✅ Solution with Iceworx:
All necessary documents are automatically generated based on your input – error-free, fast and compliant.
5. Shipment scheduled too late
Dry ice lasts 24 to 96 hours. Planning too late means your sample will thaw in transit before it arrives.
✅ Solution with Iceworx:
You plan your shipment in advance, receive a notification and choose the delivery date worldwide.
6. No track & trace or temperature check
For medical or pharmaceutical samples, insight into location and temperature is crucial. Many shipments are still sent blind.
✅ Solution with Iceworx:
Full tracking, real-time status and integration of temperature sensors are available in the platform.
7. Too many manual actions
Multiple systems, paper forms, separate orders with couriers or packaging suppliers… it takes time and mistakes are easily made.
✅ Solution with Iceworx:
Everything in one platform: shipping tool, documentation, packaging, and shipment booking. From start to finish, all handled with a single click.
Ready to ship samples worldwide without errors?
With Iceworx.nl you can ship samples reliably, quickly, and safely on dry ice – whether it's for pharmaceuticals, food, R&D, or healthcare.
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Within 15 minutes, you'll learn how to send international shipments professionally and risk-free through a single, user-friendly platform.