Shipping with dry ice: 3 essential steps
- Obtain Dry Ice: Dry ice is readily available at local suppliers, grocery stores, and some big box stores. Mercury couriers can also deliver dry ice to your location, whether it's your lab, office, or a clinical site.
- Packaging: Pack your contents into a suitable thermal container. Various containers, from simple Styrofoam boxes to vacuum insulated panel thermal shippers, can be used for shipping with dry ice. Select the box that suits your shipment's specific needs.
- Compliance with Regulations: Ensure you adhere to shipping regulations. Refer to our article on shipping with dry ice for guidance, including how to properly label boxes with a UN1845 label.
*For our clients, Mercury works with the best validated thermal shipper manufacturers to provide you with the boxes that are best for your specific shipment as well as temperature monitors and GPS trackers if you need them.
Replenishing dry ice during transit
Depending on your shipping method, dry ice can be replenished while in transit in case of a carrier issue or customs delay. The availability of dry ice replenishment during shipping varies with express carriers, but when using a specialty cold chain service like Mercury's, it is possible to refill the dry ice during transit.
Choosing the right shipping method
When choosing a shipping method, it is important to assess the importance of your shipment. For high-value, irreplaceable shipments, it is advisable to use a specialty cold chain service or a same-day courier. Conversely, routine, low-value shipments with dry ice can typically be sent through express carriers, especially if they are within the same country.
Below is a general guide on which shipment method to use but we recommend to consult with an expert should you have any questions.