How is Dry Ice Used in the Medical Industry?
Here are a few different ways the medical industry uses dry ice and its effectiveness.
You might have seen dry ice used for foggy Halloween decorations or about how dry ice keeps your food cold for a long camping weekend. But did you know dry ice is also a staple in the medical industry? It’s used to clean and sanitize equipment easily and to store and transport life-saving medicines and biological materials. Here are a few different ways the medical industry uses dry ice and its effectiveness.
What Are the Uses for Dry Ice in the Medical and Pharma Industry?
Dry Ice Blasting for Easy Cleaning
Some medical and pharmaceutical equipment cleaning methods use harsh solvents and caustic chemicals. Not only does this have the potential to leave residue behind, which may contaminate sensitive materials, but it can also lead to equipment damage over time.
Dry ice blasting is an easy, gentle, and highly effective way to disinfect equipment, and it works by spraying dry ice pellets onto a surface and waiting for them to sublimate. This method is also better for the environment, reduces waste, and is more budget-friendly.
Long-Term Storage
Certain medicines, like biologics and vaccines, must be stored at sub-zero temperatures to maintain viability. Since dry ice can remain much colder than traditional ice, at about -109°F, it’s perfect for keeping any sensitive materials at the right temperature until it’s time to use it.
Transporting Life-Saving Biological Materials
When labs and hospitals are looking to transport samples, they must remain below a specific temperature to remain viable. This is especially true for organ transplants or blood donations, which could be in transit for hours or days, depending on where they’re going.
Dry ice is the best material for this type of transport since it can stay very cold for an extended period and doesn’t melt. Since dry ice is solid carbon dioxide, it’s a gas at room temperature, unlike water. This is great for transporting sensitive and sterile materials since there’s no risk of contamination from condensation or melted ice.
Dry Ice for All Your Needs
Dry Ice Corp is the largest regional supplier of dry ice and related products in the Northeastern United States. Our ice is fresh and delivered right to your doorstep. We are happy to help you determine the best way to ship your goods, whether you have a huge number of cookies or a single pie, and help you select the perfect amount of dry ice for the job. Give us a call at (201) 767-3200, or contact us online for a quote. To connect with us online, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter.
