TESTIMONIALS

“The National Serology Reference Laboratory, Australia (NRL) provides quality assurance services for medical testing laboratories in Australia, and internationally. Our quality assurance programmes include External Quality Assessment Schemes (EQAS) and Quality Control (QC) programmes. The NRL must import large volumes of human plasma with blood-borne virus to meet the requirements of our EQAS. The imports that we arrange are typically from remote destinations, and require transportation that is temperate-controlled, precise, efficient, cost effective and compliant with IATA regulations. We also import plasma samples from GMP-accredited facilities on California and The Netherlands. These samples are often CE-marked, and as such, must conform to stringent transportation requirements. The NRL also exports our quality assurance products to participants throughout the world. Again, this shipping must be strictly controlled to satisfy the NRL’s accreditation against ILAC G:13:2000. The NRL has commissioned Dangerous Goods International (DGI) through its Melbourne Office as an import and export courier since 2005. In our experience we have found DGI to be the most effective in addressing the specific requirements to which we must adhere. We will continue to use DGI to transport consignments that contain blood and/ or blood products for the foreseeable future.”

Susan J Best M.AppSci, MBA, General Manager, National Serology Reference Laboratory, Australia.

"Phosphagenics Ltd is a biotechnology company located at Clayton, Victoria, Australia. We have a staff of 23 and for most of 2000, the company was based at Monash University’s Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. We are involved in the development of pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals and cosmaceuticals. We regularly undertake studies with outside collaborators and research organisations, including clinical studies, for which we rely on DGI for Transport of Samples. Phosphagenics has commissioned DGI through its Melbourne Office to transport our ambient and frozen samples throughout Australia, along with importing and exporting globally since 2006. We have found that DGI service has been impeccable and the professional manner in which they conduct themselves with every shipment should be applauded. We have found that DGI go out of their way considerably to ensure that the service levels are kept to a very high standard. We have found DGI to be most effective in addressing the specific requirements to which we must adhere. We are more than happy to recommend DGI, and highly value the services they provide in a very specialised and competitive industry."

Robert Gianello (PhD), Senior Scientist, Phosphagenics Ltd.

"Yesterday, 6 June 2011, I was set to fly up to Johannesburg for the LabAfrica expo. With three eager postgraduate students from University of the Western Cape ready to go, we arrived at Cape Town airport only to be told by 1time airline that we would not be allowed to take our exhibition equipment on board as it contained acetone, a flammable chemical. I have no problem with this regulation; it has my safety at heart. What I did have a problem with is that for this very reason, I had called 1time's service desk the previous week to find out what procedures I needed to follow in order to transport our equipment and the chemicals. 1time ensured me that as long as everything was packaged safely, I could just check the box in and it wouldn't be a problem. I was very sceptical of this response and so asked again if the service representative was sure that I could package chemicals and take them along. She assured me that it was fine. Of course, it wasn't!

After fighting with the duty manager, not to get the chemicals on board, but to get her to at least help me find a way to get the good to Johannesburg safely, the ticketing officer finally gave me some assistance and told me I had to take it to SAA Cargo. After a R100 taxi fare to drive 200m and chatting to all the clearing agents at SAA Cargo, I finally figured out that what I needed was a hazardous good logistics company. What a pity that the 1time duty manager did not have this information at hand to help me rather than just rudely repeating that I could not put the chemicals on board the plane. Luckily, Shaun, an employee from DGI was at the SAA Cargo depot and after explaining my dilemma to him, he transported me (free of charge, more than 200m) to DGI's office where I met with Joel Calisse, the Cape Town branch manager.

Joel immediately took the matter in hand, organised the documentation, helped me repack the goods to comply with safety regulations and had everything ready to go in time for me to catch my rebooked flight. My rebooked flight was, of course, for my own cost as 1time claimed that it was not the service representative's fault that she said I could take the goods on board because I didn't specify the kind of chemical I would be transporting. I would think that would be a critical question to ask, but the service representative had dismissed my query during the phone call. Joel then kindly gave me a lift back to the airport where I caught my flight and arrived safely in Johannesburg later that evening.

I am now at the LabAfrica expo and our equipment arrived safely this morning around 10am, in time for us to set up for the next 3 days exhibition. Joel called me this morning to make sure that everything had worked out. The contrast in customer service between 1time airline and DGI is remarkable. If only all people took as much care and initiative as Joel, the world would be a better place! Thanks DGI for great service. I will be recommending you to anyone who needs to transport hazardous material."

Dr Deborah Blaine - Senior Lecturer, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, Stellenbosch University.