Jargon Guide

If you’re struggling with technical and sector terminology or have seen specific words, phrases, or acronyms and initialisms on our website that you don’t understand, this jargon guide is for you.

Scroll through the alphabetised list, or type the word, phrase, acronym or initialism into the handy search bar below.

We hope you find our jargon helpful guide. If you’d prefer to speak directly with a team member, please contact your local office, and we will be happy to help.

Jargon/Initialism/Acronym	Meaning
UN1845	UN Dangerous Goods number for Solid Carbon Dioxide Dry Ice Class 9*
UN2814	UN Dangerous Goods number Infectious Substance (humans) Category A*
UN2900	UN Dangerous Goods number Infectious Substance (animals) Category A*
UN3373	UN Dangerous Goods number Biological Substance, category B*
3PL	Third Party Logistics provider
4GU	UN Dangerous Goods identification for Corrugated board outer box with a “universal” payload
6.2	UN Dangerous Goods Class 6.2 (Infectious Substances) *
7D	An ISTA certified testing procedure designed to evaluate the effect of external temperatures on individually packaged products.
95kPa	95 Kilo Pascals, a value of pressure, defined in the regulations, that a container must remain leakproof when withstanding. *
Absorbent	Material, typically fabric sheet, required by UN DG regulations to go between primary and secondary packaging to absorb liquid if the primary is ruptured. *
ADR	European agreement concerning the international carriage of dangerous goods by road, dangerous goods regulations.
API	Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient. Often produced remote from the finished pharmaceutical
ATMP	Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products
ATMOS	A thermal modelling program that allows us to conduct accurate thermal testing on packaging digitally
Atmospheric testing chambers	Large units that can be programmed to ensure testing can be conducted accurately against specific temperature profiles.
Biotechnology	A broad area of biology that involves the use of living organisms or parts to create different products.
CAD	Computer Aided Design, a software tool for product design and visualisation
CAD cut	Term for the sampling of cartons/products by use of a Computer Aided Manufacturing machine
Category A	UN Dangerous goods classification for infectious substances*
Category B	UN Dangerous goods classification for biological substances*
CDMO	Contract Development and Manufacturing Organisation (sometimes called CMO) provides outsourced contracted services from drug development to manufacturing.
Certified solutions	Certified solutions are products that have been tested to ensure performance.
CIEV Pharma	The Centre of Excellence for Independent Validators in Pharmaceutical Logistics is a globally consistent, recognised and standardised certification for pharma shipments in airfreight.
Class 9	UN Dangerous Goods classification for miscellaneous materials (Inc. Dry Ice) *
Cold chain	A cold chain is a temperature-controlled supply chain.
Conditioning	The preparation process for PCM materials required in a specific phase before use within a system
Coolant conditioning	To achieve accurate levels of temperature control, coolants are maintained at specific temperatures before being used to pack the payload.
Cool pack	Typically, a semi-rigid sealed pouch of material, usually water based, for use a PCM within systems. Can be used generically for any sealed PCM system component
CMC	Carboxy Methyl Cellulose. A safe natural polymer usually powdered highly absorbent of water/fluids. Also used in Gel bags
CMO	Contract Manufacturing Organisation (sometimes called CDMO) provides outsourced contracted services from drug development to manufacturing.
CRO	Clinical Research Organisation: 3rd party clinical trials operator
EMA	European Medicines Agency (European federal pharmaceuticals regulator)
Environmental Testing	Term to describe the testing of systems under simulated external environmental challenges most commonly thermal, shock and vibrational and humidity/moisture.
EPS	Expanded Polystyrene, moulded or sheet insulation material
Eutectic	Term for the optimised melting point of a blend of different chemicals
FDA	Food and Drug Administration (US federal pharmaceutical and medical regulator)
Flute	Term to describe the corrugated component of cardboard, usually given letter grades.
Gel Packs/Gel Bags	Sealed pouches of gel material, usually water based, for use as PCM within systems
GDP/cGDP	Good Distribution Practice (current c) a quality system for distribution (storage and transport)
GLP/cGLP	Good Laboratory Practice (current c) a quality system for laboratory operation and reporting
GMP/cGMP	Good Manufacturing Practice (current c) a quality system for manufacturing of product
HFEA	Human Fertilisation & Embroyology Authority
HRA	Health Research Authority
HTA	Human Tissue Authority
Hydraulic Test	A means of testing my pressurised fluid the ability of a container to remain leakproof at a given pressure (see 95kPa)
IATA	International Air Transit Association (publisher of regulations)
ICAO	International Civil Aviation organisation (author of regulations)
IMDG	International Maritime dangerous goods regulations
IMP	Investigational Medical Product
ISO9001	ISO 9001 is defined as the international standard that specifies requirements for a quality management system (QMS). Organisations use the standard to demonstrate the ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and regulatory requirements.
ISTA	International Safe Transit Association, a testing and oversight body on transport of goods
Label compliance	Labels indicating that packaging if fully compliant in accordance with various transport and government regulations.
MHRA	Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency
MKT	Mean Kinetic Temperature, a (disputed) measure of temperature exposure for products
Open platform concept	Indicates the software or product is open to users. This means it can be altered to suit user requirements.
OQ	Operational Qualification, a quality process using a system to determine its efficacy
Passive	In the temperature-controlled packaging sector, “Passive” packaging refers to solutions that operate without an electrical supply providing heating or cooling. Instead passive solutions use insulation and thermal media to ensure temperature control is achieved.
Payload	Another word for ‘cargo’, or ‘product’ in the context of sample transport and temperature-controlled packaging.
PCR	Perishable Cargo Regulations (issued by IATA) see Chapter 17 for relevant to DGP
PD	Pharmacodynamics (what the drug does to the body)
Pharmaceutical	A compound manufactured for use as a medicinal drug
Phase 1,2,3 and 4 clinical trials	Clinical trials stages prior to approval, each corresponds to a different component of the federal approvals process
Phase Change Material/PCM	A material which is intended to change physical phase (melt/freeze/sublime) at a specific temperature thereby providing thermal stability
PK	Pharmacokinetics (what the body does to the drug)
PI602	Packing Instruction for Dangerous Goods, UN 2814 & UN 2900 IATA*
PI620	Packing Instructions for Dangerous Goods, UN 2814 & UN 2900 ADR*
PI650	Packing instructions for Dangerous Goods, UN 3373 IATA & ADR*
Pneumatic Test	A means of testing by pressurised air the ability of a container to remain leakproof at a given pressure (see 95kPa)
PoC	Proof of Concept
PoT	Proof of Technology
Product efficacy	Product efficacy refers to a products ability to produce the desired or intended results and is often used when discussing pharmaceutical products or vaccines. In the case of certain vaccines, temperatures must remain stable for the vaccine work when administered.
Primary	Refers to the first layer of protection around a sample that is being transported. For example, a test tube or blood vial.
PQ	Performance Qualification, a quality process testing a system to show its capability
PU - PUR	Poly Urethane Foam, moulded or sheet insulation material
Qualification	A process often involving testing of a component, specific system of components or process to determine whether a necessary standard of performance has been met.
Qualified packaging solutions	Packaging products that have been tested against industry accepted standards.
Reagent	A substance or mixture that is used for chemical analysis or chemical reactions.
Real time tracking	Refers to the ability to monitor data such at temperature and location while packaging is in transit.
RID	Dangerous goods regulations covering the transport of dangerous goods by rail
Secondary	The second layer of protection around a sample that is being transported.
Shipping labels	Labels that can be affixed to packaging solutions during transit, detailing address details and other relevant information.
SMART packaging	SMART packaging refers to packaging that has been combined with modern technologies such as real-time tracking.
Specimen classification	The organising of different samples and specimens into different categories based on their attributes. Classifying specimens correctly means they can be transported safely and compliantly.
Stability	The character of a pharmaceutical or ingredient in response to different temperature exposures
Stereo	A printing plate for a single colour of print in a unique pattern
STP	Specimen or Sample transport packaging
TCP	Temperature Controlled Packaging
Temperature excursion/deviation	A situation where the payload temperature falls outside the desired temperature range.
Temperature parameters	Temperature parameters include a maximum and minimum temperature that should not be exceeded.
Temperature profile	Temperature profile are comprised of a temperature-based data points that can be cycled through when testing temperature-controlled packaging.
Temperature sensitive	A product or item that can be adversely affected by changes in temperature.
Temperature Sensitive Health Care Products	Regulatory term for the materials covered in IATA PCR*
Thermochromic label	A label where the appearance will change when subject to specific temperatures.
Tooling	Moulds, dies, fittings and stereos to permit production of a specific product
TOR	Time out of Refrigeration: A measure of the stability of drug exposure to adverse temperatures
T&TS	Time and Temperature sensitive
Tracking software	A digital platform that can be used for monitoring an item.
UN/United Nations	Body responsible for the publication of model dangerous goods regulations which are followed to a greater or lesser extent in all subsequent DG regulations
Universal packout	A standard way of packing or building a packaging solution that is replicated across multiple products.
USP	United States Pharmacopeia Federal guidance on good manufacturing practices in pharmaceutical production, storage and distribution.
Vacuum test	A means of testing by placing within a vacuum, the ability of a container to remain leakproof at a given pressure (see 95kPa)
VIP	Vacuum Insulation Panel, high performance sheet insulation material
Vector Graphics	A term for images and artworks which are scalable and can be manipulated by component
Volumetric weight	Volumetric weight is often used when calculating shipping costs for large and lightweight packages. It is calculated from an item’s length, width and height but can be calculated differently depending on your courier.
Waste Board/WB	A paper grade for corrugated, available natural only
WDA	Wholesale Distribution Authorisation. Anyone who procures, stores or supplies medicines must apply for an authorisation. (replaced Wholesale Dealers Licence WDL or WL).
XPS	Extruded Polystyrene, sheet insulation material

*See appropriate Dangerous Goods regulations or contact a member of our Technical team for more details