TCDM provides possibility to ship mouse embryos and sperm.
Freshly collected preimplantation mouse embryos from 1.5 to 3.5 dpc can be shipped at ambient temperatures within 48 hours. In addition, fresh sperm within the epididymis can be transported at refrigerated temperatures (4-8°C).
Cryopreserved embryos and sperm can be transported using a dry liquid nitrogen shipper available at the TCDM. It is also possible to transport frozen sperm on dry-ice between laboratories. This removes the need for the receiving facility to return a dry-shipper.
The advantages of shipping embryos and/or sperm include cost of shipment, avoiding the stress caused by shipping live mice, as well as simplified and relatively rapid rederivation of imported strains into SPF colonies.