storing a biological sample in a storage container having walls that define a storage volume;

transporting the storage container with the stored biological sample to a sample processing facility;

controlling one or more storage container parameters during the transporting step to initiate preprocessing of the biological sample;

wherein the controlling step improves a biological sample processing parameter at the sample processing facility;

wherein the one or more controlled storage container parameters is one or more of: temperature, reagent introduction, fixative introduction, centrifugation, mixing, washing, isolation, separation of one or more sample constituents, liquid manipulation, gas manipulation, or environmental control;

wherein the transporting step begins at a location different than the sample processing facility, such that the transporting step occurs in a separate location than the sample processing facility; and

wherein preprocessing refers to a processing of the sample during transit, that does not occur in the sample processing facility, such as chemical application, incubation, temperature cycling, physical separation or cell culturing,

and wherein the preprocessing results in a reduction of time required at the sample processing facility.