Shipping and Supplies

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Shipping and Supplies

1. General Instructions:

Carriers:
 We recommend shipping FedEx Priority Overnight service. Other carriers are acceptable if they offer overnight delivery. If you choose an alternative carrier, please check with them concerning their policies on dry ice shipments. UPS does not accept boxes for shipment with greater than 5 lbs. dry ice.
Shipping Time:
Please ship samples on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday to assure that your samples are not delayed in transit over a weekend. Our lab is closed on weekends. Also, please be aware that delivery delays can be expected in December.

Notify us:
Send notice of sample shipment by e-mail to Mary Curran (mcurran@salimetrics.com) prior to shipping. Please include the following information: test(s) to be performed, number of samples, carrier, and the shipment's tracking number.

Shipping Address:
Salimetrics, LLC
Attn: Mary Curran
101 Innovation Blvd., Suite 302
State College, PA 16803
1-800-790-2258

2. Packaging Instructions

 These recommendations follow the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for transport of biological specimens within the United States (USPS 18 USC 1716) and should be strictly followed. Also refer to U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and International Air Transporters Association (IATA) regulations. (information available upon request)

A. Supplies Needed:

1. Shipping container (Styrofoam box surrounded by cardboard)
2. Cryostorage boxes (cryovial or salivette size)
3. Large Ziploc freezer bags (gallon size)
4. Newspaper
5. Paper towels or other absorbent material
6. Testing Services Order From (provided by Salimetrics)
7. Dry ice

B. Shipping Container:

The shipping container should consist of a corrugated cardboard box with an insulating Styrofoam box insert (1-2” wall thickness). These containers are available from scientific supply companies such as VWR or Fisher. Examples include ThermoSafe® insulated containers manufactured by ThermoSafe Brands.

C. Packaging Saliva Samples:

1. Place cryovials (2 ml) into a 9" x 9" grid cryostorage box (81 vials per box) or salivettes into a 7" x 7" grid box (both available from Salimetrics).

Alternative: Group samples by numerical order and place inside a small Ziploc bag. Place folded paper towel or other absorbent material in each bag in case of leakage.

2. Secure single cryostorage box with rubber bands and place inside a large Ziploc freezer bag.

Alternative: One or more bagged groups of samples can be placed into a larger Ziploc bag.

3. Place a minimum of 5 lbs. (2.5 kg) dry ice on the bottom of the shipping container. Large boxes will require additional dry ice. A good rule of thumb is to fill up to ¼ of the available space with dry ice.

4. Place several layers of newspaper over the dry ice. This acts as a barrier and cushion between the dry ice and samples.

5. Place samples (boxed or bagged) on top of newspaper. Fill any remaining space with additional packing material (crumpled paper, packing peanuts, etc.) to prevent shifting. Please remember that as the dry ice sublimates, your samples may begin to shift. It is a good idea to loosely pack the container to the top. (Don’t crack the Styrofoam box!)

6. Place the sample Testing Services Order Form along with the roster inside a Ziploc bag and lay this inside the box before you close the Styrofoam lid.

7. Seal the outer cardboard box with packing tape. Shippers (FedEx, DHL) require you to afix a black and white dry ice label to the outside of the box. For FedEx, check YES in the “Dangerous Goods” box and write in the weight of the dry ice enclosed. If using UPS, write “dry ice” on the outside of the box.

8. Most samples meet the specifications of Diagnostic Specimens (human source, non-infectious). IATA regulations require a UN 3373 label on the outside of the shipping container. Writing “UN 3373 Diagnostic Samples” on the outside of the shipping box also satisfies this requirement . A shippers Declaration for Dangerous Goods is generally not required for UN 3373 samples.

3. Avoiding Shipping Problems:

Over the years our customers have encountered many shipping problems, so please ask for advice if you are not sure of what is required. Here's a short list of helpful advice:

· All samples MUST be frozen prior to shipment.

· Do not use rubber bands to group bags or tubes. They will break at cold temperatures.

· Do not stick labels on the outside of the bags - they will fall off! You may place notes regarding sample organization (e.g., Samples 1-25) inside the bags.

· Never place samples in plastic bags directly on dry ice. The plastic bags will split open spilling all your neatly organized samples around the shipping carton.
 
 · Don't over-pack the Styrofoam container. Styrofoam cracks when over-packed, which in turn causes the dry ice to melt/evaporate. Your samples will thaw while in transit which may affect your results.

· FedEx requires that a black & white dry ice sticker be placed on the outside of the shipping box. The amount of dry ice in kilograms (not pounds) must be noted on the sticker. Shipment will be delayed if this information is not completed properly. To convert pounds to kilograms, divide by 2.2.

4. Shipping from outside the United States:

· Contact Salimetrics for specific instructions regarding documentation that must accompany your samples. A deviation from the proper procedure will cause a delay in getting samples through U.S. customs.

· Transit times may be more than one day. Please take this into account when packaging your samples.

· Shipping regulations differ from country to country. Please contact your local carrier for specific regulations prior to shipping.

Copyright 2005 Salimetrics LLC