Hi, Plasmids are no problem at all. You can spot them onto blotting paper and send them in normal post - it's just DNA. I'm guessing that your AAV & E.coli are genetically modified organisms (rather than actual viruses & bacteria) - in which case you'll have to deal with usual paperwork. I'd avoid Fedex like the plague (comedy unintentional) - we've had lots of problems with them, with samples defrosting etc. I'd go with a company familiar with shipping biological samples - check that they'll refill the dry ice if it gets stuck at immigration/customs.

 @Simon N Waddington

Thank you so much for your information. 

Yes, AAV and E. coli are genetically modified. AAV actually coats the plasmids we want to ship. I will check those company familiar with shipping biological samples.

In fact, I am not familiar with usual paperwork. What kind of paperwork is involved (those stated in the USDA?)  

Thanks again for your help.

Best,

Qian

To add on, is AAV, for gene delivery to mouse brain, considered as dangerous during shipping?

Hi, I don't know what USDA-related paperwork is involved - the couriers I use (I'm UK based) usually provide a checklist of questions, and then they complete the paperwork. I suspect that World Courier might do the same. Or another international company familar with shipping biological material is called "Marken" - I think they might be German.

@Simon N Waddington

I see. Thanks again for your help. I will ask World Courier and find out.

Best,

Qian

As Simon mentioned, if the AAV was prepared in mammalian cells with bovine serum-containing medium, you may need USDA certification that only US or Australian sourced serum was used. I had to do this to obtain several hybridoma lines from DSMZ in Germany; it took 6 months for USDA to process the paperwork.

@ Craig M Neville

Thanks for sharing your experience. I will check with the consignee and see how to proceed regarding the USDA certification.

Best,

Qian

Here is my experience one year ago and hope someone finds it helpful.

For plasmids, including those in the tube as liquid, ship with FedEx with dry ice inside is not a problem at all. Arrive within 2 days from Vienna to New York City. Just to add all the necessary safety labels on the box and don't seal the styrofoam box.

For AAV, in the end, we used Cryoport, which costs more than FedEx, but quick and convenient. Before shipping, they provided a form to fill in for the paper work, and then several emails and phone calls, which took us 2 days roughly. At that time, you need to decide on which day at which time you will ship the AAV. On the shipping day, they FedEx us a nitrogen container, which the delivering time is decided before. Then you follow the instructions on the container and pack the AAV. FexEx comes again and pick up the container, a few hours later as decided before. So the AAV is shipped.

For bacterial, we decided not ship them in the end, as we already got the plasmids.