Abstract: A medical specimen tote assembly containing a coolant. The assembly is configured with wells sized to individually receive and safely support one or more specimen tubes. At least one of the components of the assembly or a portion thereof is formed to contain a temperature-sensitive material that causes the component or portion to change color when a preselected temperature is exceeded. More preferably, the material causes a color change to occur at or near freezing, so as to indicate if the temperature of the component, and therefore specimens contained by the assembly, is near 0° C. or slightly higher.