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.
  
  
• Shipments from outside US: Enclose permits inside package; use recommended contents description on the outside of the package.
  

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. All shipments to Matson's Lab from all countries outside the U.S. must use regular government mail services. DO NOT use any courier (Purolator, DHL, etc.) Use: "PO Box 308, Milltown MT 59851" as the shipping address.

International shipments have additional requirements:

CITES PERMITS: In compliance with the International Convention for Threatened and Endangered Species (CITES), permits are required to send biological specimens to Matson's Lab for processing. Permits are required for mammals listed in CITES Appendix I or Appendix II, either in the country of origin or in the US. In addition, permits are also required for mammals resembling threatened or endangered species (for example: the North American black bear).

Please enclose the original CITES permit and first 4 copies in an envelope inside the parcel plainly marked CITES PERMIT ENCLOSED. Put the envelope in a place where it will be easily found.

To inquire about the status of the species for which you have specimens, please contact Matson's Lab. For permits, contact your closest government wildlife management agency.

PACKAGE MARKING: For preserved specimens shipped in water, put this language on customs labels and/or an additional package label: CONTENTS PRESERVED SPECIMENS FOR SCIENTIFIC ANALLYSIS, CONTAINED IN WATER. NON-ETIOLOGIC, NON-HAZARDOUS, NON-PERISHABLE.

CARRIER: Use only government mail services because these shipments will not be delayed at the border but will automatically go to a US Postal Service office for the required US Fish & Wildlife Service inspection. Transportation may be expedited by using INTERNATIONAL EXPRESS MAIL, a category that must be specifically requested at the time of mailing.

WARNING FOR PRIVATE COURIER SHIPMENTS: These shipments may be held, requiring expensive services by a custom broker to forward the shipment to Matson's Lab. Shipments are not uniformly handled. Some go through a broker and some do not. There is a chance that a broker's fee of $70-$100 will be charged. We highly discourage sending specimens by private couriers. Ship by regular government mail with permits and marking as described above. The use of mail will be more economical and faster than if the parcel is processed by a broker.

WARNING: PRIVATE CONSULTING FIRMS: A shipment between two private commercial firms is defined as "commercial" by the US Fish & Wildlife Service and a $55 US importation fee will be charged. To assure that permit fees will not be charged for specimens involving scientific research or wildlife conservation management, have shipments of biological specimens sent to Matson's Lab by the agency for whom you are conducting the study.

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