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Is it safe to ship eggs and embryos?

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This is turning into a popular issue as much more individuals relocate and wish to deliver their eggs to a brand new hospital, use eggs donated from out-of-state & as clinics adjust their ideal freezing techniques, that in certain ways reduce the margin of errors – we will go to that in a minute.

Back again to the initial question, we need to have a glimpse at the information within a typical clinic.

The transportation system and also vitrification are related.

There’s a pretty good possibility your fertility clinic is going to use vitrification to cryopreserve oocytes/embryos, which happens to be a much more effective approach than slow freezing. Eggs and embryo are managed with a lot of proper care in the system of vitrification. The eggs/embryos need to be saved at a heat of -120 Celsius. Slow-frozen cells are ready to withstand an increase in temperature up to 20 Celsius degree.

For long-term storage, cryopreserved oocytes/embryos are generally stored in cryo storage tanks which are loaded with liquid nitrogen (LN). The heat of liquid nitrogen is 196 Celsius. embryos and oocytes may be saved for decades or decades, but still be consumed, since almost all natural processes of a cellular are suspended at which very low temperature. Clinics must refill their storage tanks with liquid nitrogen since the temperature has to be maintained steady during this time.

We eliminate the eggs from the container and put them in a delivery dewar to have them cold. The FAA will not allow planes to fly with liquid nitrogen on rii, therefore we cannot load up that dewar. To get around this, the internal surface area of the dried up shipper has “retention foam” which functions as a sponge, and can take in some liquid nitrogen, releasing simply vapor (but not the liquid on the nitrogen). If properly prepared (emphasis on the “properly”), this dried up shipper is able to have a very low heat between 190 and 150 Celsius for a few days (or maybe even over a week), which ought to be adequate for shipping the eggs/embryos.

Many clinics are going to have ARKCryo IVF couriers pick up the pot and also provide it to the receiver clinic. Both companies have a great track record for this particular work type. Lastly, the getting clinic unpacks the container and places the eggs/embryos within their personal storage tanks (with liquid nitrogen) until the individual is prepared to wear them.
Exactly how widespread is this?

I have not seen figures though I would estimate that each and every season there are approximately 1,500 – 2,500 samples delivered between centers. Nearly all of this are vitrified donor eggs delivered from egg banks to centers. And for historic context, we have been shipping slow frozen embryos after the late eighties. Our area has a great deal of experience doing this.
Can it be likely that every clinics accept eggs from any other centers?

Each clinic will often accept eggs from another clinic. I have carried this out for twenty years and haven’t heard about a clinic refusing to accept eggs from yet another clinic. The delivery clinic’s “documentation” wasn’t in order, the sole exception I am able to think of.
How can I know if my hospital is great at shipping or receiving eggs/embryos?

It is kind of all clinics and an investment will be able to do it right. It is not practical to assume clinics to supply you with information on how effectively eggs/embryos were received since most do not have the amount for comparison.
Exactly how much does this price and is there a method to save money?

If the distance between the 2 centers is quite short (for example, if both centers are placed within the exact same city), now one can consider “hand delivery” by the individual that has the eggs/embryos, that may set you back practically nothing.

The price to deliver eggs/embryos longer ranges within the U.S. is around $ 200 – 400 that really equals to the UPS or maybe FedEx charge. Based on the arrangement the delivery clinic has with the delivery businesses, that varies. And of course, several clinics are going to charge beyond what they pay Ups. or maybe Fedex Then you will discover the clinics which just will not deliver, period. In this instance the individual must contract straight by using a delivery business (for example Cryoport) that is going to oversee the delivery logistics (providing a well prepared dried up shipper, etc.), nonetheless, and as you may assume, this is even more costly.

Based on the spot, shipping internationally may cost $1,000 or perhaps other things. You’ll find just a couple of businesses that are seasoned enough to do this effectively, since shipping internationally involves all kinds of laws & customs paperwork.