We stock three different sizes of shipping containers for the following situations:

Small: Human brain, as described in Instructions for Funeral Director or Pathologist.

Medium: Human cranium, as described in Instructions for Funeral Director or Pathologist.

Large: Large pet bodies, as described in Instructions for Veterinarian. 

 

These containers are designed to be shipped by FedEx or UPS.  We can send a container to your location overnight.  The instructions below will accompany the container.

 

1. Upon receipt, immediately place the ice packs into a freezer until they are again frozen solid.

 

2. Cool the tissue thoroughly to refrigerator temperature.  This may take hours.  Ice water will speed the cooling.  Do not freeze.

 

3. Drain any liquid, and place tissue in plastic bag.  Squeeze out air before sealing.

 

4. Place in the plastic pail and fill remaining space with packing material.  Screw on the lid.

 

5. Place in the styrofoam shipping container.  Surround with icepacks, then fill remaining space with packing material.  Tape up box.

 

6. No special labels are needed.  Contents are "anatomical part for medical research".  Ship overnight express to arrive on a weekday.

 

Oregon Cryonics

1462 Commercial St SE

Salem, OR 97302

 

DOT Hazmat Rules

The US DOT has special rules for transporting hazardous materials.  They may not be shipped without proper advance training.  An infectious substance (division 6.2) is a material known to contain or suspected of containing a pathogen. Some items are excepted from the infectious substance definition:

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2011-title49-vol2/pdf/CFR-2011-title49-vol2-sec173-134.pdf

173.134(b4): Materials in which the pathogen has been neutralized.

173.134(b14) Corpses, remains, and anatomical parts intended for interment, cremation, or medical research.

In other words, the Hazmat rules do not apply to us at all, and it's entirely up to us to ship in a safe manner at our discretion. 

 

Formaldehyde

Any liquid formaldehyde is a hazardous material under a different category and could not be shipped without proper training.  But tissue fixed in formaldehyde is not considered a hazardous material.

 

Dry Ice

Do not use dry ice.  It requires shipping as a hazardous material and it also damages tissue.

 

Alternate Packaging

Sometimes, our container may not be available -- for example, in urgent or international situations.  If you are trying to assemble your own packaging, here are some guidelines and suggestions:

 

Inner bag: 2 gallon Ziplock bag.

 

Inner container: New clean metal paint that can purchased from any hardware store.  Hammer lid on tight.

 

Packing material: Newspaper

 

Insulated outer container: A plastic or styrofoam cooler.

 

Ice packs: Reusable ice packs that are readily available at many stores.

 

Outer shipping box: Any sturdy cardboard shipping box.