I'm bringing some samples from a -80 freezer to another, with a potential 18 hour travel in between, probably by car, possibly by plane (and then shorter). What is the best way to transport them cold? Styrofoam box with CO2 ice? What is the highest T they can experience and still be in "optimal" condition? I've done it before with a thermos of liquid nitrogen, but it might not be viable this time.
What have worked for you guys?
Cheers,
Leon, on a research project abroad
Hi Leon, I think that the best option is to use a good amount of dry ice in the box you proposed. With that amount of dry ice you can preserve your samples during more than 24h without variation of the temperature. Good luck.
Do not transfer all samples. Divide each into two aliquots and then transfer one and leave the other just in case. If your subsequent technique will be RT-PCR for example, why do not you transfer them as RT or PCR products to ensure higher stability?
I never used but you could use RNAlater® from Thermo Fisher Scientific and Sigma-Aldrich.
All The Best
Hi Leon,
Andreas Svensson i Kalmar som i sin tid var PhD-student hos meg transporterte masse samples på tørris mellom Sverige, Norge og Skottland og kan både prosedyrer og pitfalls. Tror vi/han brukte DHL. Det ble ofte "krøll" typ i tullen selv om Andreas hadde gjort alt riktig, og det er mulig strul like mye som standard-prosedyrer man må kunne. Anbefaler at du kontakter ham for råd.
Vennlig hilsen Trond
Hi Leon, yes if not transporting them in liquid nitrogen or a fully charged dry shipper, then dry ice would likely be your best bet. Just make sure the samples sit in the middle of the dry ice and that the dry ice container is very well sealed. As soon as a sample begins to thaw, it begins to degrade. I'm assuming they are already frozen otherwise you could pop them into RNAlater, good luck!
Hi all and thank you for your kind answers! Yes, the samples are indeed frozen already. I'm bringing them myself, so I will have control over them not ending up at DHL offices and rotting. Trond - I'll contact Andreas for some info.
Bridie - have you brought frozen samples back from Lizard Island? Any success with RNAlater? (I've mostly heard it's not good enough).
Talk to Henrik Sundh, Snuttan or Linda they have long experience in transporting samples...: )
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Social Psychology
- Attitude