Tim Pasma, Jennifer Zoethout

Animal Health Laboratory, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON.

AHL Newsletter 2024;28(4):4.

Cold weather shipping

As winter approaches and the temperature become colder, please remember to package submissions to prevent freezing of samples. Samples such as EDTA tubes can be packaged with a room temperature ice pack to help prevent freezing. To prevent formalin from freezing, add 1mL of ethanol per 10mL of formalin.

Handling charge for coolers

Purolator has informed us they will be adding a handling charge for plastic or styrofoam coolers effective April 1, 2025. This charge will be added as these types of coolers cannot be processed on their automated lines and need to be handled manually. To avoid the handling charge, AHL recommends that coolers be packaged inside a cardboard box. The handling charge will be billed to the client by AHL.

Shipment of multiple packages

Please note that we cover the cost of shipping one package per day. If we receive more than one package shipped from a client on the same day, our policy is to bill back this cost to the client (at $15.00 per shipment). The exception is for shipments of cytology slides and fixed tissues which must be sent in separate shipments to prevent damage to slides by formalin fumes.