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If you need to travel to India for IVF treatment,
there is no need to bring your husband with you - you can just bring his
frozen sperm sample with you !
In the past, this used to be a complex and cumbersome procedure, but one
of our patients has discovered a much simpler and easier method.
I had always thought that in order to transport
frozen sperm, one needed a dry shipper which keeps the frozen sperm
chilled at minus 196 C. These are big, bulky expensive containers which
are hard to get and difficult to carry. A dry ice box, on the other
hand, costs a few dollars, and dry ice is easily available at any
caterer !
Here's how she did it, in her own words ( she is an
embryologist herself !)
INTERNATIONAL HAND CARRYING of FROZEN
SEMEN SAMPLE on DRY ICE
As experienced by Lisa Walia on April 15, 2005
Obtain small personal cooler @ 8qt ( for example, Cool 8). You can buy
one from www.igloocoolers.com.
Fill (Pack) entire cooler with dry ice. This can be obtained from a
caterer at about $1.50/pd.
Collect frozen sample already frozen in liquid nitrogen at local clinic.
Disperse vials evenly throughout the cooler. Be prepared to sign a
document stating the clinic has no responsibility for the sample after
it is released.
Have the clinic write up statement about what the sample is and where it
is going.( For example, ... Clinic certifies that the contents of these
tow containers are human sperm samples of ... frozen and stored in dry
ice.)
Attach all paperwork to the cooler so it is clearly visible. Carry extra
copies of these documents with you.
Do not tape the cooler shut, as it might have to be opened for security
checks.
Do not let cooler be passed through X-Ray, this could hinder the samples
viability.
Do not open the Cooler for extended periods of time. The less you open
the cooler the better.
Keep the cooler in areas of lowest temperature possible. Ask the airline
if they can store the whole cooler in their refrigerator or freezer on
board.
Keep fly/ transportation time to a minimum. Dry ice
only lasts 24-48 hours depending on how it is stored.
Get cooler to Dr. Malpani as soon as possible for entry back into liquid
nitrogen suspension.
HINTS
* Obtain dry ice and sample right before your flight
* Can handle dry ice with bare hands if you move quickly
* Always inform anyone who asks what the cooler is, for it's safety. If
security opens the cooler, do so only for minimal times. Once
they know what it is they actually want to help !
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