[Nhcoll-l] "Zip-lock" food storage bags

[Curtis Schmidt]

I had this happen to me a few years ago with a loan return of over 150 toad specimens. They were shipped via UPS and the package was not labeled for containing alcohol. The shipper used WAY too much alcohol and did not seal the package well, resulting in a very wet box. UPS contacted me and stated that they "should" destroy the package and its contents because they didn't know what the fluid was. Thankfully, they allowed me to make a 3-hour drive to pick them up at their facility. So...I agree with the plea for due diligence when it comes to packing and shipping such materials!


Curtis Schmidt


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Curtis J. Schmidt

    Zoological Collections Manager

    Sternberg Museum of Natural History


    Instructor

    Department of Biological Sciences

    Fort Hays State University


    3000 Sternberg Drive

    Hays, KS  67601

    785-650-2447 (cell)

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________________________________
From: nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> on behalf of Alexandra Snyder <amsnyder at unm.edu>
Sent: Monday, February 26, 2018 10:30:37 AM
To: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
Subject: [Nhcoll-l] "Zip-lock" food storage bags


This morning, once again, I am unpacking a leaking box of specimens, a loan return.   I would like to make a special appeal that fluid preserved specimens NOT be shipped in zip-lock food storage bags---at all---but if they are used, zip-lock bags should NOT be used as an "outside bag"---i.e., the bag that must hold fluid if the first bags leak.  Not sure if they still do this, but carriers like USPS, UPS or FedEx used claim that they would discard packages if the package was leaking fluid.


A zip-lock can be used as a first bag, to hold specimens wrapped in cheesecloth or toweling,  but the outer bag that holds the individual collections should be a 4-mil plastic bag with a sealed top.  A sealed top can be accomplished using a heat sealer to seal top (no folds or wrinkles) and testing that seal by pressing on the bag and checking for air escape.  If a heat sealer is not available, the top can be tightly twisted, folded over and tied off with string (not rubber bands.)  I  have successfully used this twist top seal on bags of specimens fixing in formalin and transported out of the field.  Attached is a pdf demonstrating the seal.


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Alexandra M Snyder, Collections Manager-Fishes
Museum of Southwestern Biology MSC03-2020
University of New Mexico Albuquerque NM 87131
PH./FAX 505.277.6005     amsnyder at unm.edu

PHYSICAL ADDRESS FOR FEDEX/UPS
Bldg.83  Room 204
302 Yale Blvd NE



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