Refrigerant and method for shipping perishable materials

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention provides a refrigerant package for shipping perishable items comprising an insulated container having a predetermined quantity of refrigerant gel and a predetermined quantity of dry ice, preferably separated from the refrigerant gel by a partition, wherein the item to be shipped is placed in contact with the refrigerant gel.
Surprisingly the use of both dry ice and refrigerant gel for a refrigerant package provides a refrigerated environment for the item to be shipped that is, in some instances, superior to a package using either the refrigerant gel or dry ice alone.
For instance, a refrigerant package in accord with this invention comprising a ten pound insulated container made of styrofoam and containing three pounds of refrigerant gel and one pound of dry ice pellets provides a shipping environment that does not drop in temperature below -20.
degree.
C.
and remains below about 0.
degree.
C.
for at least 48 hours.