Shipping Requirements

Correct shipping procedures to and from us must be followed. All shipments are managed by the Specimen Receptionist (email: specimenreception@iiid.com.au, phone: +61 8 9360 1363).  Samples should not be sent to us without prior arrangement and advice from the Specimen Receptionist.

There are specific requirements for sample preparation according to the tests requested and documents to be completed prior to shipping. The name of the courier company and the air way bill number will be required, since the journey of the sample in transit will be tracked by the SR following dispatch. 

Shipments will be packaged according to IATA (CASA) specified procedures for biological samples. Cryogenic support may be required to ensure sample integrity throughout the transfer. Import or quarantine permits for intercountry transfer will be required.  As a simple guide, information for common sample types to be shipped from international laboratories is listed:

Australia has strict quarantine requirements and failure to follow the directions for shipments may result in the consignment being delayed or destroyed. All shipments to us must include:

  • An import permit,

  • A declaration of contents on official notepaper

  • A customs/commercial invoice

  • A sample inventory

DNA samples

DNA must be provided in solution in T10E or highly purified water. A minimum of 50µl of 25ng/µl with an A260/A280 ratio of >1.7 is required for HLA typing.  For ERAP and KIR typing an additional 25µl of the same concentration and quality of DNA is required for each additional typing eg 50µl more for ERAP and KIR typing

For samples in plates, the DNA must be supplied in Axygen Full Skirted (cat # PCR-96-FS-C) 96 well plates. A maximum of 93 samples per plate with a minimum of three wells left empty (for controls we add).  The empty wells are normally G6, H6 and H12. DNA should be heat sealed into the plates.

For smaller numbers of samples, we can accept most tubes but prefer samples in standard 1.5 ml flip cap Eppendorf tubes 1.5 or 0.2 ml.  Each tube must be labelled to match the information provided in the specimen inventory. Plates or individual tubes must be labelled with two unique identifiers.

As a precaution against leakage, we recommend DNA be shipped frozen and consigned with sufficient dry ice to support the samples for a 7-day transit. We recommend using a shipper that will maintain a dry ice environment throughout transit.

Alternatively by using high quality seals, such as strip cap tubes or efficient heat sealing, the DNA may be shipped ambient or on wet ice bricks.  We will reject samples that have leaked during transit.

PBMCs, blood or blood products

The volume of sample required will vary from assay to assay. Samples should be shipped frozen with enough dry ice for a 7-day transit.

Shipping address

Attention: Specimen Receptionist
Health Futures Institute IIID, Murdoch University
Building 390 Discovery Way
Murdoch Western Australia 6150
Australia