Streamline LabOps with Same-Day and NFO Shipping
General
Key takeaways
NFO (Next Flight Out) and same-day courier services reduce downtime for labs.
Mercury's services integrate easily with existing LabOps workflows.
Real-time tracking and chain-of-custody protect time-sensitive specimens.
Flexible scheduling improves operational efficiency and responsiveness.
How to Integrate Mercury’s NFO and Same-Day Courier into Your LabOps Workflow
Understanding the Importance of Speed in LabOps
In laboratory operations, speed is everything. From time-sensitive specimens to temperature-sensitive therapeutics, delays can disrupt research timelines or invalidate samples. For labs managing diagnostics, R&D, or clinical trial materials, rapid shipping isn’t just a convenience—it’s a requirement. This is where Mercury’s Next Flight Out (NFO) and same-day courier services come in.
What Are NFO and Same-Day Courier Services?
NFO stands for Next Flight Out. It refers to the practice of booking the next available commercial flight to move shipments quickly between distant locations. This service is ideal for coast-to-coast deliveries or shipments that must arrive within hours.
Same-day courier service typically covers local or regional deliveries. These couriers transport packages directly from sender to recipient without delays, making them a critical part of last-mile logistics. When combined, NFO and same-day courier offer end-to-end, rapid delivery for urgent lab shipments.
Why Speed Matters for Labs
Delays in shipping biological specimens, reagents, or cell lines can result in sample degradation. For diagnostic labs, this impacts result accuracy. In clinical trials, delays could mean missed dosing schedules. Mercury's logistics services protect the value of your research by minimizing turnaround times and maintaining sample integrity.
Mapping the Shipping Workflow in LabOps
Most lab shipping workflows follow a basic structure:
Collection and packaging of materials
Scheduling the shipment
Handoff to courier or drop-off
Transit and tracking
Delivery and confirmation
Mercury optimizes each of these stages by integrating real-time communication, precise tracking tools, and white-glove handling protocols. Our team coordinates directly with your LabOps staff to ensure shipments leave on time and arrive securely.
When to Use NFO in a Lab Environment
NFO is most useful when shipping coast-to-coast or internationally with limited time. For example:
Sending tissue samples from California to a lab in Boston
Delivering temperature-sensitive diagnostics to a partner site within 24 hours
Resupplying clinical trial materials across long distances
With NFO, Mercury books the next possible flight and coordinates couriers to and from the airport. Our tracking system ensures continuous visibility at every handoff.
When to Use Same-Day Courier
Same-day courier is ideal for local or regional moves where speed and control are essential:
Transporting blood samples to a local diagnostics lab
Moving reagents from a warehouse to the lab on the same day
Sending clinical kits from a central facility to patient homes
Same-day service is highly customizable. Mercury offers dedicated couriers, temperature-controlled vehicles, and signature-required drop-offs.
Integrating Logistics into Your LabOps SOPs
Standard operating procedures (SOPs) in laboratories are built to ensure compliance, consistency, and safety. Integrating Mercury’s shipping services into your SOPs improves reliability and reduces variability in sample handling.
We recommend the following:
Define internal triggers for NFO or courier requests
Assign LabOps team members to schedule and track shipments
Create contingency plans for missed flights or vehicle issues
Incorporate training for sample packaging and labeling
By formalizing this in your SOPs, teams can act swiftly when time-sensitive logistics are needed.
Streamlining Pickup and Handoff
Time often gets lost during pickup scheduling and package handoff. Mercury simplifies this with dedicated account management and automated pickup requests. We coordinate directly with your shipping team to ensure readiness.
Packaging requirements and labeling must be correct from the start. Mercury provides guidance and materials to help your team prepare shipments that comply with IATA, DOT, and local regulations.
Temperature Control and Monitoring
For temperature-sensitive materials like plasma, swabs, or biologics, cold chain logistics is essential. Mercury offers validated packaging for dry ice, refrigerated, and ambient shipments. Real-time temperature monitors can be added to each shipment.
Tracking is available via web portal, API integration, or email alerts. Our team monitors every shipment to proactively resolve delays.
Chain of Custody and Compliance
Maintaining chain-of-custody is non-negotiable in regulated environments. Mercury provides full documentation at each handoff point, including:
Courier signatures
Time-stamped logs
Delivery verification
This recordkeeping supports compliance with FDA, GxP, and HIPAA guidelines and can be integrated with your lab's data systems.
Handling Returns and Reconsignments
Sometimes, samples need to be returned or re-routed. Mercury makes this easy with:
On-demand return shipping
New labels and documentation
Pickup scheduling for reverse logistics
We can even support split shipments or delivery to multiple sites from one origin.
Mercury's Lab Logistics Dashboard
Our proprietary Navigent℠ platform provides visibility into all your logistics activity. You can:
Track inbound and outbound shipments
Access documentation and temperature logs
Submit pickup or courier requests
View delivery performance metrics
Lab managers use this tool to stay ahead of scheduling needs, flag urgent shipments, and report on logistics KPIs.
Why Mercury Is a Trusted LabOps Logistics Partner
Mercury is trusted by biotech, pharma, and clinical trial teams because we understand what’s at stake. Our experience spans thousands of shipments across the U.S. and globally. We focus on high-touch, reliable service that fits directly into laboratory operations.
Our team acts as an extension of your LabOps function. We reduce your workload by handling planning, shipping, compliance, and troubleshooting.
How Mercury Helps Clients Focus on Science, Not Shipping
With Mercury, your team can spend less time managing shipments and more time on science. We:
Handle pickup, delivery, customs, and tracking
Monitor temperature and regulatory compliance
Ensure last-mile delivery even for hard-to-reach areas
Provide training and support to your logistics team
This allows labs to run efficiently, avoid disruptions, and stay focused on results.
Conclusion
Integrating NFO and same-day courier services into your LabOps workflow enhances speed, compliance, and visibility. With Mercury, labs gain a logistics partner who understands the urgency and complexity of life sciences shipping.
Ready to streamline your LabOps workflow with fast, secure logistics? Contact Mercury today to learn how our NFO and same-day courier services can support your operations.
