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Cryogenic Sample Shipping

Category: Sample Shipping
Sub-category: Cryogenic work

Cryogenic samples require special handling. This merit badge covers shipping already frozen cryoEM grids to national centers for data collection.

Safety

This merit badge is focused on safely shipping frozen grids from your home lab to a national center. Please follow all relevant safety protocols at your home institution.

Safety Data Sheets:  Liquid nitrogen SDS

Background

To transport frozen cryoEM grids for data collection they must remain at cryogenic temperatures for the duration of shipment. The most effective way to do this is using a Dry Shipper (Extended Time Cryogenic Refrigerator). Following our SOP will help you get your grids safely to a national center so that we can use them for data collection.

A review on preparing shipments to facilities for data collection (see sections 5 & 7)

Tips for dewar testing and maintainance.

General background on cryogenic safety: Getting Started in CryoEM – Unit 2: Sample Preparation [Cryogenic work safety covered in the Plunge freezing safety modules]

SOP for Cryogenic Sample Shipping

  • Printable version of the SOP

The pass/fail knowledge assessment will test understanding of the following concepts:

  • Maintenance and care of dry shippers
  • Proper use of secondary containers for grid box storage
  • Making sure your samples are received intact and in a timely fashion
  • Making sure your shipper is returned to you

Here is the current quiz version:

Sample shipping is done from your home lab, therefore this merit badge does not include an in-person demonstration. We are very happy to answer any questions you have before shipping to ensure your samples arrive on time and in good condition for imaging. Please reach out to the center you are shipping to if you would like assistance.

Each center has additional specific procedures, found here:

  • PNCC Site Specific Procedures – Sample Shipping
  • NCCAT Site Specific Procedures – Sample Shipping
  • S2C2 Site Specific Procedures – Sample Shipping

Sample shipping is done from your home lab, therefore this merit badge does not include an in-person supervised practice. We are very happy to answer any questions you have before shipping to ensure your samples arrive on time and in good condition for imaging. Please reach out to the center you are shipping to if you would like assistance.

  • We will use the Cryogenic Sample Shipping Checklist (add link here when ready) upon receipt of your dry shipper to verify successful shipping and adherence to the SOP.
  • Evaluation is pass/fail. All steps on the checklist must be performed to pass.
  • You must notify the center that you would like your shipper to be tested for the shipping merit badge, and provide your quiz completion certificate, before receipt of your dry shipper.

Additional information:

Recertification period

  • Merit badges for cryogenic work are valid for 6 months.
  • Recertification (to maintain active status) requires one re-evaluation with the checklist.