Sample Preparation and Shipping

Sample Collection and Storage

Proper sample preparation for flow and imaging cytometry is critical for successful analyses. For standard marine or freshwater flow cytometric analytical services, please refer to our recommended sample preservation protocol with aldehydes.

IMPORTANT: Please check with us before shipping your samples to ensure someone is available to receive them. Once they have shipped, please email the parcel tracking number and we will confirm when your samples have arrived.

When shipping samples to the Center for Aquatic Cytometry, we recommend using FedEx overnight services and sending the packages out on a Monday or Tuesday to ensure that they arrive before the following weekend in case there are delays. Please do not ship during or right before holidays in the US or the country of origin.

Please use a styrofoam container enclosed in corrugated packaging (cardboard) with dry ice labeling. Include at least 10 kg (~20 lb) dry ice for domestic shipments or 20 kg (~40 lb) dry ice for international shipments to ensure your samples are safe should there be any shipping delays. Dry ice is considered a hazardous shipment. It must be packaged and labeled appropriately. Here is a link to the details for shipping dry ice through FedEx. We can also accept samples in a dry shipper if a prepaid return shipment label is included.

Please place cryovials in a small container to protect them from potential mechanical damage during shipping. For large numbers of cryovials (>20) please store and ship within cryoboxes for organizational purposes. For all packages a detailed sample list is required. Please complete the sample list template and include a hard copy with your shipment as well as emailing us a copy.

Shipping address:

Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences
Attn: Nicole Poulton / Laura Lubelczyk
60 Bigelow Drive
East Boothbay, ME 04544
USA

Phone: +1 207 315 2567 x 513
npoulton@bigelow.org / llubelczyk@bigelow.org