Versapak International Ltd., in collaboration with the University of Southampton, Solent Transport and Inteliports, have reached an exciting milestone for the future of medical logistics. Together, they’ve developed a newly redesigned insulated medical carrier that has now achieved regulatory compliance for the air transport of patient pathology specimens – a key step toward routine NHS drone deliveries.
Developed as part of Solent Transport’s Drones for Medical Logistics (DfML) project and funded by the Solent Future Transport Zone (FTZ) and Versapak International, the carrier successfully passed rigorous testing last year to meet the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Packing Instruction 650 (PI650). This confirms the carrier can be used for the safe air transport of biological substances classified by the United Nations as UN3373 under their system for Dangerous Goods (DG) – essential for carrying pathology specimens.
“As the primary supplier to the NHS, Versapak International was the natural partner to help redesign and certify a carrier fit for drone delivery,” said Tim Forrester, FTZ Programme Manager at Solent Transport. “This milestone demonstrates how public, private, and academic collaboration is driving innovation in healthcare logistics. By enabling compliance for air transport, we are significantly closer to a future where urgent pathology specimens can be delivered by drone, cutting delivery times.”
The University of Southampton and Versapak International co‑designed and manufactured the new carrier, adapting Versapak’s proven design for use in aviation. PI650 compliance testing, carried out by an accredited laboratory in the UK, involved:
• Stacking test: simulating a 3‑metre-high stack of carriers for 24 hours with no leaks or instability.
• Drop test: a series of 1.2‑metre drops in multiple orientations, all with no leaks.
It’s not only pathology specimens that are classified as DG – around 10% of medicines are as well. And when it comes to drone transport, UK and European rules are clear: DG must not cause any harm to people or the environment, even in the event of an accident. That’s why the new medical carrier is currently undergoing an extensive programme of drop testing from 400 ft, matching the typical maximum operating height of delivery drones.
During the tests, conducted by the University of Southampton and Inteliports at QinetiQ’s Hurn Proving Ground, the carrier has proven to be consistently robust. The results are incredibly encouraging so far: not a single impact has produced a puncture through which contents could escape. Work is on-going to satisfy the aviation authorities that the carrier will fully prevent any leaks in the unlikely event of a drone failure.
The development of a medical carrier for use by drones for time‑critical deliveries of pathology specimens and medicines classified as DG marks a major step forward, both for Versapak International, one of the UK’s most innovative providers of medical carriers, and for faster, safer medical logistics in general.
