Abstract
Transporting cryopreserved cells using nitrogen vapor shipment is a common practice. Dry shippers have been traditionally utilized to move slow frozen specimens with larger volumes, e.g., straws and vials, among ART laboratories. However, there is concern regarding transportation of vitrified cells that utilize very small volume which may be more sensitive to the temperature variation in the vapor. The movement to and from a long-term storage facility or to other laboratory may have several adverse effects on cryopreserved cells if not handled in an appropriate manner. The relative safety and subsequent effect on viability of short-term vapor storage of vitrified cell during transport is a cause for worry. Hence, extra caution should be practiced especially for vitrified specimen, when handling and transferring during shipping. In order to address the escalation in cross-border reproductive tourism entailing the transfer of reproductive cells and tissues rather than the patient, the challenges, caution, and emerging possibilities of nitrogen vapor shipment of vitrified cells have been discussed.
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Gandhi, G., Allahbadia, G., Kagalwala, S., Madne, M. (2015). Nitrogen Vapor Shipment of Vitrified Cells: Challenges, Caution, and Emerging Opportunities. In: Allahbadia, G., Kuwayama, M., Gandhi, G. (eds) Vitrification in Assisted Reproduction. Springer, New Delhi. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-1527-1_9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-1527-1_9
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