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The total cost benefit of lyophilization can be between 8–43% 10 , depending on the shipping requirements such as coolers, icepacks, boxes, and dry ice. The further the distance to travel, the more significant the savings.
Implement Green Logistics 1. Reduce shipping and packing costs with lyophilization
3. Use animal-free reagents whenever possible In recent years, there has been a growing push for animal-free reagents, led by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the 3Rs principles (Replace, Reduce, Refine) to minimize animal use in diagnostics. U sing animal-free reagents can enhance assay performance and reproducibility, lower costs, and promote sustainability. These alternatives reduce land use, water consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions by eliminating animal farming and minimizing chemicals used in processing of animal-derived reagents. Antibodies, antigens, and enzymes from animal-free sources are increasingly available, whether as recombinant proteins/ enzymes or derivatives from plants or bacteria. Animal-free reagents generally exhibit minimal variability, and a lower risk of contamination compared to animal-origin counterparts. Their adoption represents a pivotal step towards ethical and sustainable practices in diagnostic manufacturing.
D iagnostic manufacturers often produce reagents centrally and distribute them globally, resulting in significant CO 2 emissions. Many products require cold-chain shipping and storage to maintain integrity, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and incurring hidden costs and supply chain risks, with dry ice transport being particularly expensive. As the industry, especially point-of-care testing, seeks greener solutions, alternatives to cold-chain logistics are essential for growth. Lyophilization technology offers a green alternative by stabilizing reagents at room temperature through moisture removal, thus preventing degradation. Lyophilized diagnostic assays have extended shelf lives, reducing waste, and are lighter and more compact, making shipping easier. While there is an upfront cost for lyophilization, the benefits include significant freight savings and reduced environmental impact, with cost reductions ranging from 8% to 43% 11 depending on shipping requirements. O ther technologies, such as air drying, provide a cost-effective and less energy-intensive alternative to lyophilization, though they require careful optimization to ensure the enzymes are tolerant to heat. As innovation advances in the air-drying sector, companies are creating ready-to-use formulations for molecular diagnostic assays, streamlining. 2. Source materials locally Sourcing materials locally offers a valuable opportunity to cut transportation emissions and bolster local economies. It also enhances supply chain resilience by minimizing reliance on global networks, mitigating transportation disruption risks, and creating jobs within the local community.
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