Carrying frozen sperm with you- How? 

When you travel to India for IVF treatment, it is not necessary 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.

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 !

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 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 !