In the medical field, the thickness selection of medical specimen bag is an extremely important decision, which directly affects the safe preservation, transportation and accuracy of follow-up testing of specimens. Reasonable thickness selection should be considered by various factors. ​

First, the type of specimen determines the thickness requirement

Liquid specimens: For liquid specimens such as blood, urine, chest and abdominal fluid, it is necessary to choose a specimen bag with a larger thickness. Liquid specimens are fluid and some may be infectious, and thicker specimen bags are better at preventing leakage. In general, the thickness of the specimen bag containing liquid specimens should be more than 0.1 mm, such as 0.12 mm or 0.15 mm, to ensure that during transportation and storage, even if it is squeezed, it can maintain good sealing and avoid contamination caused by liquid leakage. ​

Tissue specimens: Tissue specimens, such as surgically removed tissue blocks, pathological sections, etc., are irregular in shape and may have sharp edges. In order to prevent the specimen bag from being pierced and ensure the integrity of the specimen, thicker specimen bags with certain puncture resistance should be selected. The thickness of this type of specimen bag is usually between 0.08-0.1 mm, which can effectively resist the damage of the tissue specimen to the bag, and at the same time protect the specimen to prevent the invasion of external microorganisms. ​

Microbial specimens: Microbial specimens, such as bacterial petri dishes, virus sampling tubes, etc., have high requirements for environmental stability. Thicker specimen bags can provide better barrier properties and reduce the influence of external environmental factors on specimens. Generally, the thickness of microbial specimen bag should be more than 0.07mm to maintain a relatively stable temperature, humidity and gas environment in the specimen bag to ensure the activity of microorganisms and specimen quality. ​

Second, preservation and transportation environmental impact thickness decision

Storage at room temperature and short distance transport: If the specimen is only stored for a short time at room temperature and the transport distance is short, the requirements for the thickness of the specimen bag are relatively low. For example, in the transfer of specimens between departments in the hospital, a specimen bag with a thickness of 0.05-0.07 mm can be selected, which can meet the basic protection needs and has a certain economy. ​

Cryogenic preservation and long-distance transportation: When specimens need to be stored at low temperatures, such as in refrigerators and freezers, or need to be transported over long distances, such as to field testing facilities, environmental conditions become more complex and harsh. At this time, a specimen bag with a larger thickness should be selected. The low temperature environment may make the plastic material brittle, and the bumps and squeezes during long-distance transportation increase the risk of damage to the specimen bag. Therefore, in such cases, the thickness of the specimen bag should be more than 0.1 mm, and even for some special high-risk specimens, the thickness may need to reach 0.15 mm or higher to ensure the safety of the specimen in harsh environments. ​

Third, the thickness requirements of regulations and safety standards

The medical industry is subject to strict regulations and safety standards. Different countries and regions have clear regulations on the thickness and related properties of medical specimen bags. For example, in China's relevant standards for medical devices, there are detailed requirements for the physical properties of medical specimen bags, including thickness, tensile strength, puncture resistance, etc., to ensure the safety and reliability of specimen bags during use. Medical institutions and related enterprises must strictly follow these regulations and standards, and select specimen bags that meet the required thickness to ensure compliance with medical operations and patient safety. ​

The selection of the thickness of medical specimen bag should comprehensively consider various factors such as specimen type, storage and transportation environment and regulatory requirements, and provide reliable protection for specimens through scientific and reasonable decision-making to ensure the smooth development of medical work. ​