Shipping Your Samples

Use only leak-proof jars such as those made by Nalgene®. Nalgene jars are widely available through multiple supply company websites. We recommend using 1 liter or 500 ml Nalgene® wide-mouth bottles made from low or high-density polyethylene or polypropylene.

Allow preserved samples to “marinate” in the alcohol preservative for five days.

Just before shipping, decant off most of the preservative, leaving only enough to cover the top of the sediment. This eliminates most of the flammable material and also much of the weight. A tea strainer and squirt bottle of alcohol can be used to catch and return any invertebrates that float off during decanting (see photo). Samples will be topped off with additional fresh alcohol upon arrival at our laboratory. 

Secure bottle caps firmly so they do not vibrate loose during transport.

Place each sample bottle into its own Ziploc bag, purge the air, and seal the bag (see photo). This will provide an added layer of protection in case the jar leaks. Any leakage will be contained in the Ziploc bag.

To add another level of protection from leakage, line a sturdy cardboard box or plastic cooler with a plastic garbage bag. Place the sample bottles inside and seal the garbage bag.

Pad the samples with bubble wrap or crumpled newspaper inside the shipping container. Do not use Styrofoam.

Seal and secure the container well with sufficient strapping tape.

Please email us to confirm that you are sending us your samples. We will notify you by email when they arrive at our lab.