Hi all,
I have brain sections that have been stained and coverslipped and mounted in the US. I want to scan these brains using a scanner in Germany, and I was wondering how people usually bring histological slides from one country to another. I'm assuming checking it in should be fine, but I'm worried that it will get damaged. Also, I'm worried when I bring the slides back to the US, I'll have trouble with customs. Does any one have experience with this?
Thank you!
I did cross the US border from Switzerland back in 1990 with fresh brain tissue from autopsies in liquid nitrogen. Had no problems. The customs worried more about my brandnew Mac Portable I carried (!) with me back then... Slides are usually no problem at all, since they are fixed and sealed below glas. A letter usually will do: to state that they are thin sections of fixed tissue sealed below glas for microscopy with non infectious potential...
Hi,
I do recommend using a freight service. It is safe and efficient, and you do not want to get into trouble at US/EU Customs. You should, however, fill their forms very carefully, and declare very low value - at least this is what we do. They will likely not confiscate the slides at immigration and customs, but you may experience excessive delay and unnecessary trouble. For FedEx it takes usually less than 48 hours to ship packages between transcontinental destinations, and they are reliable. I did this several times (immunostained sections, osmicated section for EM, etc..), and it worked. In addition, you already put a lot of effort, time and money to these slides, and you do not want to risk it. Hope this helps!
Thank you for the helpful comments!
@Bence Rácz: when you used FedEx, do you remember how much you had to pay for it?
Dear Andrew Lee,
I have traveled to Germany with FFPE slides and had no problem at all entering.
In this case I put them in my cargo luggage. But it was not for the US. So... best of luck!
Rita
It depends on the quantity, but - for less than 20 slides, that can fit in a small slide box and padded with foam-chips - overnight international air should be between $90-200.
I travel with glass slides consistently with ho problems. I recommend to keep them in your carryon luggage. They are harmless and no one frown upon them in any country I have visited, including Latin America, Asia and Europe.
@Ana Rita Pedrosa: yes, my biggest concern is going into the US...I might just have to have my institute send it by Fedex...
@Bence Rácz: ah I see, thank you!
@Miguel Reyes-Mugica: did you have any problems when you were leaving the US during security? And did you also carry the slides back to the US in your carryon luggage?
I have not had any problems going out from or coming back to the US with histologic glass slides in my carryon luggage. I have traveled with one or two boxes typically containing 25-50 slides each, or with several plastic cases containing 5 slides each.
@Miguel Reyes-Mugica: oh wow, that's pretty cool. I'll keep that in mind. Thank you for your help!
I also had no troubles coming back from Austria last month with my slides. As for keeping them safe, I wove kleenex in between each slide and packed additional kleenex in any open spaces in my slide box and they were all perfect. I even had them in a checked soft sided bag and nothing happened.
You should put them into specific slide bag and fill between of slides whit soft tissue. And then dont worry.
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