Customer Information


Sample Collection, Storage & Shipping Information:

  1. Samples shipped to PPI for diagnosis are classified as “Diagnostic Samples”. These samples are not classified as “Infectious Agents”.

  2. Client is responsible for all supplies and materials as well as shipping costs.

  3. For clients shipping from the 50 United States and/or Puerto Rico:

    a. The client is responsible for ensuring that samples are shipped in accordance with mandated U.S. regulations governing the shipment of Diagnostic Samples, Dangerous Goods and dry ice (42 CFR 72: Interstate Shipment of Etiologic Agents). These regulations are mandated under the authority of the Center for Disease Control (CDC). It is the policy of PPI that these requirements MUST be met in all cases.

    b. Samples should be shipped overnight to PPI. Do not ship samples after Tuesday of any week. This provides enough time before a weekend to track down a shipment that is delayed or misplaced by a carrier if necessary.

    c. Samples must be shipped on ice, frozen gel packs, or dry ice in nested boxes (i.e., an exterior corrugated box and an interior Styrofoam box). Cold packs directly in contact with the samples should be very cold but not frozen, while exterior ones should be frozen. Please be sure to adhere to all transport carriers’ shipping requirements. d. If samples need to be stored temporarily (i.e., for up to a week) prior to shipping, refrigerate them until you are ready to ship. Note: Samples stored in glass tubes should never be frozen- they will break.

  4. For clients outside the United States:

    a. Foreign clients are responsible for ensuring that samples are shipped in accordance with mandated shipping regulations (see 3a). Foreign clients are also responsible to ensure that samples are shipped in accordance with regulations that are mandated by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the United States Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Proper permits must be obtained before shipping samples collected from any non-human primate. It is the policy of PPI that these requirements MUST be met in all cases.

    b. A CITES export permit will be necessary if you are shipping non-human primate samples. Please visit the CITES website (http://www.cites.org/eng/app/appendices.shtml), where you will see that all non-human primates are listed under Appendix II of the Convention. As a result, you will be required to obtain a CITES Export permit from the Management Authority responsible for implementation of CITES in your country before shipment of any samples to the U.S. Under CITES, blanket permits for such exports are authorized and in some countries they are available. If they are not available, it will be necessary to obtain an individual export permit before shipment. Failure to obtain the appropriate permit can cause serious problems in the United States. Unless you are already familiar with the requirements, you should check with your local Management Authority to determine the appropriate requirements. If this CITES permit is not properly completed and attached to the exterior of the shipping container, it is possible that your shipment may be detained or denied entry into the U.S.

    c. The word “CITES” should be the first word entered in the Description Section on the waybill form of the express courier you are using.

    d. Please contact PPI with any inquiries you may have regarding procedures, regulations, and/or permits

  5. Blood samples - If sending blood samples, please send at least 3mL** per sample in plastic K2EDTA or K3EDTA vacutainer tubes* (i.e., white, or lavender topped). A description of types of vacutainters can be found at: http://www.bd.com/vacutainer/pdfs/plus_plastic_tubes_wallchart_tubeguide_VS5229.pdf

  6. DNA samples - If you are sending extracted DNA, send at least 15 micrograms of DNA in a neutral buffer (TB or water works best) with a minimum concentration of 60 ng/ul and a minimum OD 260/280 of 1.8. Minimum volume should be 15ul per sample.

*K3EDTA tubes also come in glass, but these tubes can break when frozen.
** more may be required based on services requested and number of animals being sent