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<p style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0">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!</p>
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<p style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0">Curtis Schmidt</p>
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<p>_________________________________</p>
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<p>Curtis J. Schmidt</p>
<p><span> </span>Zoological Collections Manager</p>
<p><span> </span>Sternberg Museum of Natural History</p>
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<p><span> </span>Instructor</p>
<p><span> Department of Biological Sciences</span><br>
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<p><span> Fort Hays State University</span><br>
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<p><span><span> 3000 Sternberg Drive</span><br>
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<p><span> Hays, KS 67601</span></p>
<p><span><span> 785-650-2447 (cell)</span><br>
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<p><span><span>________________________________</span></span></p>
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<div id="divRplyFwdMsg" dir="ltr"><font face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size:11pt" color="#000000"><b>From:</b> nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu <nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu> on behalf of Alexandra Snyder <amsnyder@unm.edu><br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, February 26, 2018 10:30:37 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Nhcoll-l] "Zip-lock" food storage bags</font>
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<p style="margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0">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. </p>
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<p style="margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0">A zip-lock can be used as a first bag, to hold specimens wrapped in cheesecloth or toweling, but the
<u>outer bag</u> that holds the individual collections should be a 4-mil plastic bag with a <u>sealed</u> 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. </p>
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<div style="font-family:Tahoma"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">*************************************</font></div>
<div><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:medium"><font color="#808080">Alexandra M Snyder,
</font></span><span style="color:rgb(128,128,128); font-size:medium">Collections Manager-Fishes</span></font></div>
<div><font size="3" color="#808080" face="Times New Roman">Museum of Southwestern Biology MSC03-2020</font></div>
<div><font size="3" color="#808080" face="Times New Roman">University of New Mexico Albuquerque NM 87131</font></div>
<div><font color="#808080"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">PH./FAX 505.277.6005 amsnyder@unm.edu</font></font></div>
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<div><font color="#808080"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">PHYSICAL ADDRESS FOR FEDEX/UPS</font></font></div>
<div><font color="#808080"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">Bldg.83 Room 204</font></font></div>
<div><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman'; font-size:medium; color:rgb(128,128,128)">302 Yale Blvd NE</span><br>
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