Clinical Trial Specimen Collection & Logistics Service
Almac Diagnostic Services offer an end-to-end clinical trial specimen collection & logistics service for your clinical trials including clinical trial site training and management.
We offer a range of bespoke specimen collection kit manufacturing options and clinical trial material bulk kit supply.
Almac’s dedicated logistics team has extensive distribution and supply chain knowledge to help plan your global distribution strategies.
Benefits of partnering with Almac
Utilising Almac integrated kits & logistics capabilities can aid with better site and patient outcomes, reduced turnaround time, more specimens passing QC and a higher percentage of valid eligibility calls reported for Clinical Testing within a clinical trial, resulting in more patients enrolled to receive your drug.
With the quality, speed and flexibility you expect from Almac, alongside excellent communication, and a dedicated clinical trial dashboard we ensure that you keep in full control of your clinical studies at all times.
As part of our Specialty Central Lab Service, Almac can store your samples in a biorepository to aid biopharma client backup plans in case a drug development programme does not meet its primary endpoint. The specimens can be tested in future with different assays, either already validated or custom developed & validated by Almac, for other future biomarker programme needs.
Services

Benefits of Combined Almac Solution
The benefits of using Almac’s Specimen Collection Kit Design, Manufacturing & Logistics service in combination with our Clinical Testing capabilities provides clients with better clinical trial outcomes:
Kit Manufacturing & Logistics | Clinical Testing |
---|---|
Bespoke Packaging & Label Design service resulting in a well-designed kit minimising site errors during sample collection. | Higher volume of tests ordered accurately Higher percentage of adequate and legible information to proceed with assay testing. |
Inclusion of bespoke labelling allows easy identification of components, patient samples and kit information. Optimised shipping routes to maintain sample integrity during transport. | Increased Specimen Acceptability Higher percentage of samples meet specimen acceptability criteria to proceed with assay testing. |
Protocol specific shipping documentation and labelling accelerates the shipping process and reduces shipping errors. Selection of optimised shipping routes to ensure rapid return of samples. Proactive sample tracking to ensure any delays in transport are highlighted and contingencies put in place. | Optimised test turnaround time Higher percentage of samples meet assay test turnaround time. |
Provision of a dedicated supply chain team to support clinical sites for duration of the clinical trial. | Increased customer satisfaction Higher percentage of clinical sites satisfied with clinical site management and assay communication. |
Clinical trial inventory management from site initiation ensuring clinical sites have the required kits for first patient in date. | Greater quality control Higher percentage of samples pass quality control and a valid eligibility call reported. |
Ongoing stock monitoring of sample collection kits throughout the clinical trial. | Enhanced trial setup & trial management service Almac offer a bespoke end to end trial solution designed in line with regulatory requirements for assay testing. |
Specimen Collection Kits
Almac provide a flexible & customised approach to our Specimen Collection Kit Design & Manufacturing Service for clients where we match everything to your specific trial requirements. We have experience in designing multiple sample types and kitting methodologies.

Additional Information
More information on specific elements of Almac’s Clinical Trial Specimen Collection & Logistics Service can be found below by clicking on each menu item.
Specimen Collection Kit Manufacturing
Almac provides a flexible & customised approach to our Specimen Collection Kit Design & Manufacturing Service for clients where we match everything to your specific trial requirements.
We have experience in designing multiple sample types and kitting methodologies for the following specimen types: Blood & Blood Derivatives, FFPE Tissue, Fresh Tissue, Liquid Specimens (Urine, Buccal, Saliva) and Temperature Controlled Specimens.
There are 2 types of kits Almac routinely provide clients for Clinical Trials and Research Programmes:
1. Single Patient Collection Kits
- Sample Specific Test Kit
- Time point Specific Kit
2. Bulk Ancillary Supply Kits
- CTMs (Clinical Trial Materials)
- Routine supply of additional ancillaries for the processing of samples at sites
- Bulk Sample Collection Kits
Almac has manufacturing sites based in both UK and USA.
We also have a dedicated Label Control Suite based at our UK site.
Time Point Collection Kit Manufacturing
Almac can manufacture timepoint collection specimen collection kits designed specifically for your clinical trials & research studies.
The time point kits contain materials needed to collect samples at specific timepoints during your study.
These kits typically include:
- Labelled containers
- Blood tube(s)
- Instructions for use
- Other bespoke supplies necessary for accurate specimen collection
For example, in pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) studies, each kit corresponds to a specific PK or PD timepoint, ensuring proper sample collection vs a generic sample type kit such as serum collection.
Clinical Trial Materials Bulk Kit Supply
Almac Diagnostic Services has a wealth of experience in providing combined services for Clinical Trial Material (CTM) Bulk Kit Supply.
Whether this be thermometers, blood tubes, pregnancy tests, or other ancillaries, Almac can procure these items and deliver them globally, ensuring your clinical sites have what they need when they need it.
Ensuring clinical trial sites have the correct materials needed, at the right time, helps to:
- Prevents trial delays
- Ensures patient treatment & experience
Almac manage the supply of goods in EU from our Craigavon, UK warehouse & USA from our USA Depot in Durham, NC.
Almac also has dedicated warehousing space at our disposal for your Clinical Trial Materials & Bulk Kit Manufacturing & Distribution needs and can also manage your regulatory & customs compliance.
Labelling Service
Almac Diagnostic Services has a dedicated specimen labelling team with industry specific knowledge of clinical identification requirements for human specimens to maintain chain of custody.
We have the capacity to print upwards 5 million labels per annum with current infrastructure & utilise multiple printer types to allow for a broad range of customisation
We offer a bespoke specimen collection kit packaging & associated labelling service. Instead of a ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution.
Benefits include:
- Increase immediate visual impact of kit identification at clinical sites for simplicity & efficiency
- Assisting to reduce the risk of labelling and sampling errors
- Resulting in more samples arriving Almac ‘right first time’ and reducing cost and time wastage
Supply Chain Management
Almac Diagnostic Services dedicated Supply Chain Management Team can aid client’s clinical trials by managing the timely supply to clinical sites of Clinical Trial Materials (CTM) and Specimen Collection Kits (SCK), saving time & resource.
Almac Specialised Procurement Team manage complex supply chains, guaranteeing clinical supply throughout life cycle of projects.
Forecasting & Stock Management to maintain adequate stock level to support clinical sites while minimising stock wastage due to expiry.
Stock Thresholds & Target Inventory Levels for each trial are regularly monitored and adjusted through the life cycle of the trial.
Site Stock Monitoring & Automatic Re-Supply of expiring stock or low stock levels of specimen collection kits, cap for stock resupply per site if requested, and expiring stock resupply based on forecasting & site communication.
Monthly Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) Reporting designed on a per trial basis and bespoke to customer requirements for courier performance, site stock usage, expiring stock on sites.
Logistics & Importer of Record (IOR)
Logistics
Almac Diagnostic Services has a dedicated Logistics team with extensive Distribution & Supply chain knowledge to plan Global Distribution strategies
We are currently providing logistical support for 150+ programmes with over 500 clinical sites Worldwide, managing temperature sensitive Biological samples from sites to UK and USA laboratories & Worldwide
Importer of Record (IOR)
- Almac Diagnostic Services has 20 years IOR experience and in that time has shipped samples all over the world.
- We offer Importer of Record Services (IOR) within the United Kingdom, Ireland & the United States of America helping clients navigate the complex importing process.
- We provide IOR services for foreign importers and take care of every phase of the importation from customs clearance to the payment of duties and taxes.
Clinical Trial Dashboard
Almac Diagnostic Services has developed a dashboard tool designed to allow clients access to key information regarding their clinical studies.
The dashboard displays key data corresponding to client clinical studies, including:
- Clinical Trial Summary – Received & Reported
- Clinical Site Summary
- Clinical Trial Status
- Test Results
- Clinical Trial Inventory
Find Out More – Here
End to End Solutions
Almac’s end to end Sample Management Service includes integrated services including Specimen Collection & Logistics, Specimen and Data Management, Sample Processing, Storage & Downstream Molecular Analysis.
Our dedicated project management teams will provide end to end oversight to ensure your needs are met on time and within budget.

Almac Sample Management Service
Find out more on each element of Almac’s Sample Management service by following the links below. We also offer an integrated Specialty Central Lab Service.
FORECAST, REPORTING & PLANNING
- Dedicated team to meet client trial requirements and minimise costs.
- Bespoke reports for effective trial management.
- Supplies strategy and effective ordering to improve trial efficiency.
DESIGN & MANUFACTURING
- Bespoke Packaging & Label Design service managed by a Design Specialist.
- Technical consultation for component selection.
- Inventory management system and temperature controlled storage solutions
REGULATORY COMPLIANCE
- Adherence to global regulations for import / export and IATA.
- Sample collection kits manufactured under an ISO 13485:2016 certified QMS.
- ISTA and IATA package testing experience.
SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT
- Dedicated supply chain team to support clinical sites for duration of the clinical trial.
- Clinical site stock management at all clinical trial sites for duration of the study.
- Traceability of manufactured stock at clinical sites.
LOGISTICS MANAGEMENT
- Dedicated logistics team to provide solutions for your trial logistical needs.
- Courier selection and setup based on individual trial requirements.
- Temperature controlled solutions for transport of specimens.
RETURN & DISPOSAL
- Recycling & destruction of expired sample collection kits.