A tissue sample transport and storage assembly comprising: (a) a sample container assembly comprising: walls defining a first cavity for holding a volume of a formalin-based fixative solution; a histology cassette (2306, 3302) sized for holding the tissue sample and adapted for insertion into the first cavity of the sample container, such that the tissue sample is completely immersed into the volume of the formalin-based fixative solution; and a seal adapted to create a formalin-impervious barrier enclosing the first cavity; (c) a case assembly comprising a second cavity defined by a material comprising an insulator and/or a cooling element, wherein the second cavity is sized to accept the sample container and the temperature-responsive element in an arrangement that permits the temperature-responsive element to track and record the temperature of the formalin-based fixative solution in the sample container, characterized in that the tissue sample transport and storage assembly further comprises (b) a temperature-responsive assembly comprising a device, an apparatus or a chemical which is capable of tracking and recording the temperature of formalin-based fixative solution disposed in the sample container through the walls and/or seal; and a cooling block and a timer, wherein said cooling block contains a volume of a coolant and is inserted in the second cavity in the case assembly; and wherein said timer comprises: - a source of a dye; - an absorbent material; and - a material separating the dye from the absorbent material selected from at least one of: • a removable dye-impervious material disposed between the source of the dye and the absorbent material; • a solid matrix in which the dye is disposed, wherein when the solid matrix melts, the dye is released and contacted with the absorbent material; or • a solid matrix that melts when the coolant or formalin-based fixative solution reaches a predefined temperature, wherein the dye is contacted with the absorbent material upon melting of the solid matrix, that the insulator and/or a cooling element is capable of maintaining the volume of the formalin-based fixative solution at a temperature in the range of 0 °C to 7 °C for at least 2 hours under shipping conditions when the tissue sample transport and storage assembly is assembled. (a) a sample container assembly comprising: walls defining a first cavity for holding a volume of a formalin-based fixative solution; a histology cassette (2306, 3302) sized for holding the tissue sample and adapted for insertion into the first cavity of the sample container, such that the tissue sample is completely immersed into the volume of the formalin-based fixative solution; and a seal adapted to create a formalin-impervious barrier enclosing the first cavity; walls defining a first cavity for holding a volume of a formalin-based fixative solution; a histology cassette (2306, 3302) sized for holding the tissue sample and adapted for insertion into the first cavity of the sample container, such that the tissue sample is completely immersed into the volume of the formalin-based fixative solution; and a seal adapted to create a formalin-impervious barrier enclosing the first cavity; (c) a case assembly comprising a second cavity defined by a material comprising an insulator and/or a cooling element, wherein the second cavity is sized to accept the sample container and the temperature-responsive element in an arrangement that permits the temperature-responsive element to track and record the temperature of the formalin-based fixative solution in the sample container, - a source of a dye; - an absorbent material; and - a material separating the dye from the absorbent material selected from at least one of: • a removable dye-impervious material disposed between the source of the dye and the absorbent material; • a solid matrix in which the dye is disposed, wherein when the solid matrix melts, the dye is released and contacted with the absorbent material; or • a solid matrix that melts when the coolant or formalin-based fixative solution reaches a predefined temperature, wherein the dye is contacted with the absorbent material upon melting of the solid matrix, • a removable dye-impervious material disposed between the source of the dye and the absorbent material; • a solid matrix in which the dye is disposed, wherein when the solid matrix melts, the dye is released and contacted with the absorbent material; or • a solid matrix that melts when the coolant or formalin-based fixative solution reaches a predefined temperature, wherein the dye is contacted with the absorbent material upon melting of the solid matrix,