Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the BioSeal Systems material made of?
    The BioSeal Systems material is manufactured under a trade secret agreement with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. It is comprised of six layers of exotic plastic, aluminum and plastic layered and compressed with special adhesives. The material’s interior foil barrier contains all fluids and vapors while the exterior layer provides strength and durability.
  • What is the shelf life of the BioSeal Systems material?
    The BioSeal Systems material is unaffected by ambient heat or humidity and can be stored without any deterioration in performance or dependability for up to 49 years.
  • What kind of testing has been done on the material?
    Testing has been done by the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force as well as private sector public safety organizations. These tests have focused specifically on the absolute containment functionality of the BioSeal Systems material. Every test has successfully validated that our technology meets the standards for Biosafety Level 4 containment of all known hazardous biochemical agents.
  • What is “Biosafety Level 4”?
    There are four Biosafety levels defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that are applied to activities involving infectious microorganisms. The levels are designated in ascending order, by degree of protection provided to personnel, the environment, and the community. Level 4 is the highest level, requiring maximum protection and containment.
  • How do I seal human remains with the BioSeal System?
    Place the required length of BioSeal Systems material on a flat surface and then open it to its full width. Place the decedent onto the material and then fold it over to enclose the body. Simply align the edges and slowly go along the edge with the BioSeal System handheld heat sealer to weld the container.
  • How long does the heat sealing process take?
    The process is quick and easy. It takes about 3 to 5 minutes to safely contain human remains in the BioSeal Systems pouch.
  • How can I be sure that the material is properly sealed?
    The BioSeal Systems material will visibly change when an adequate seal is achieved, making it very easy for you to spot any areas that remain unsealed.
  • Will the BioSeal Systems material contain disease or poison?
    Yes. A properly sealed BioSeal Systems pouch will contain any known substance, vapor, gas, material, fluid, odor or chemical.
  • Will the BioSeal Systems material contain odors?
    Yes. A properly sealed BioSeal Systems pouch will contain all odors, fluids and gases generated by unrefrigerated human remains for at least 96 hours.
  • What happens to the gases from decomposition?
    The BioSeal Systems material is a flexible metal container. It will expand to accommodate all the gases generated by unrefrigerated human remains until the internal pressure exceeds 95kph or about 300 psi. Somewhere around 98kph the BioSeal Systems material will develop micro–sized pinholes and the excess gas will be vented out.
  • Can I cremate the BioSeal Systems material?
    Yes. The BioSeal Systems material can be placed directly into a retort. There will be no measurable residue left after incinerating a ten–foot long pouch.
  • Can I reopen and reseal a BioSeal Systems pouch?
    Yes. The BioSeal Systems material can be opened and resealed as often as necessary.
  • Will the BioSeal System take up a lot of space in my work area?
    No. The BioSeal Facility System, our most widely used solution, requires just one square foot of floor space. The dispenser rack is on wheels so it can be easily moved about your prep room. Our BioSeal Mini System is not mounted on a rack and the roll of material can be stored in the corner of a closet.
  • Can I write on the BioSeal Systems material?
    Yes. Notations made on the material with an indelible marker will not blur, fade or disappear.
  • Why isn’t there a window in the container to view the decedent?
    A view window would violate Biosafety Level 4 hazmat containment specifications. It would also relinquish contents privacy.
  • How do I know which BioSeal System configuration is the right solution for my needs?
    We have developed several configurations of our BioSeal Systems solutions in order to meet the requirements of a variety of fatality management scenarios, including everything from whole human remains to scattered fragments, from infrequent use to daily use to one time use in the case of a catastrophic mass fatality disaster. We also have a portable solution if your job takes you out into the field.
  • How do I know how much BioSeal System material I’m going to need for my mass fatality preparedness planning?
    We suggest using the following decedent count formula to estimate your anticipated need:

    First, identify your “Service Population” (the total number of persons living within the geographical service area of your institution or agency). Next, calculate a fatality rate of 10% of that population to get the decedent count should a pandemic or catastrophic disaster occur. Then, estimate how much of the 10% number is going to end up at your facility. This is the number of decedents you should be prepared to accommodate.

    Here’s an example:

    General Hospital’s service population is approximately 250,000 people.
    A death rate of 10% would equal 25,000 dead.
    General Hospital shares its service population with two other major medical facilities, so it should anticipate about 30% of the estimated 25,000 decedents, or approximately 8,000.

    Our BioSeal Mass Fatality Response System accommodates approximately 1,500 decedents. Therefore, General Hospital would need six BioSeal Mass Fatality Response Systems to be adequately prepared for a catastrophic mass fatality scenario.
  • How can I be sure my team is adequately prepared to use the BioSeal System?
    Our BioSeal Team Training System includes everything you need to provide an authentic training experience, including a roll of BioSeal Systems material, an approved handheld heat sealer and a life–sized, fully–articulated Simulaid training dummy.
  • Do I need a license to heat seal human or animal remains?
    Yes. You most definitely need a license and that licensing is provided when you purchase one of our BioSeal Systems solutions. The heat sealing of human and animal remains is protected by U.S. Patent #5,659,933.
  • Do I need a special sealing machine?
    Yes. You must use the handheld heat sealer included in our BioSeal Systems. It has been specifically modified to work with our trade secreted BioSeal System material. Use of any other heat sealing device nullifies the license to heat seal remains.
  • Can I air ship human remains in a BioSeal Systems container?
    Yes. Simply seal the decedent in a BioSeal Systems pouch and place the human remains into an ATA approved standard combo shipping container with frozen gel packs.
  • How do I move the decedent after I seal it?
    The BioSeal Systems material is very strong. It will hold over 500 pounds of internal weight. After sealing the decedent, simply grasp the extra material at each side of the BioSeal Systems pouch and lift or pull as needed.
  • Can State and Federal Agencies purchase the BioSeal System?
    Yes. BioSeal Systems and pricing can be found in the GSA Advantage Catalog. Simply type “BioSeal” into the search box or search for our GSA contract number, which is “GS–07F–0431K”. Our Department of Defense contract number is: SP0200-08-H-0055.
  • Are you a “sole–source provider”?
    Yes. We are the only providers of an approved, licensed process for the Biosafety Level 4 heat sealing of human remains. We have no competitors. This is a great benefit to government agencies because it significantly accelerates the procurement cycle.

Please email us at info@bioseal.com with any other questions.