Pre-shipment Checklist for Soft Tissue

• Indicate species.
  
  
• Bundle Whirl-Pak bags together in groups to match the master inventory list.
  
  
• Double bag Whirl-Paks inside a larger, sealed plastic bag and use plenty of absorbent padding around the plastic bags.
  
  
• Enclose the master inventory list.
  
  

  • Group the species
  • List numbers in serial order
  • Indicate tissue type sent
    
    
• Computer diskettes: send Microsoft Excel files.
  

Matson's Laboratory LLC
US Post Office address:
PO Box 308, Milltown MT 59851 USA
Physical address (for UPS, FedEx, and other couriers):
8140 Flagler Road, Milltown MT 59851 USA
Email address: gjmatson@montana.com

Description of Checklist Items:

• Organize the specimens by species. Because of size and morphology differences, specimens of each species are processed separately. Package specimens of each species separately.
  
  
• Soft tissue PRESERVED SPECIMENS should be rinsed in 2 or 3 changes of water before shipment and shipped in water. Use plastic "Whirl-Pak" bags, approximately 5 x 8 cm, available from many lab suppliers. Fill the lower part of the bag with only enough water to keep the specimen wet, add the specimen(s) and EXCLUDE ALL AIR BEFORE SEALING THE BAG so the tissue won't dry out in an air pocket.
  
  
• Use a soft lead pencil to mark a paper label of small but conspicuous size and enclose it with the specimen before sealing the bag. Watercolor paper is a good stock for labels. Don't use a marking pen to put identification labels on the outside of the bag. Although waterproof, many inks will smear, making the label unreadable.
  
  
• Pack the bags in serial order by identification number inside a larger sealed plastic bag and surround them with enough absorbent material to ensure there will be absolutely no leakage during transit. Postal workers are understandably alarmed by leaking parcels.
  
  
• Prepare an Inventory List. This list should correspond exactly to the organization of the bags so technicians can use it to confirm specimen identification at the start of laboratory processing. The list can be on either hard copy or diskette.
  
  

  • The inventory list should include species identification of the specimens and type of tissue.
    
    
• Package specimens only in containers of the strongest cardboard. Light cardboard cartons will often be crushed and torn during postal handling. Pad the shipments with enough shipping "popcorn" or paper and absorbent material to help keep the envelope bundles intact.
  
  
• Ship packages properly. US shipments sent by the US Postal Service should use "PO Box 308, Milltown MT 59851" as the shipping address. Shipment sent by other carriers such as UPS and FedEx should use "8140 Flagler Road, Milltown MT 59851" as the shipping address.

Return to top