Contact: Salimetrics (USA)
A dried blood spot sample is only as good as the condition it arrives in. Following the steps below, from drying the cards through labeling and shipping, keeps your samples intact and your results reliable.
Packing and Shipping DBS Samples for CoreLab+ Testing
Watch this walkthrough for a full demonstration of how to organize, pack, and ship dried blood spot samples for analysis.
DBS Packing & Shipping FAQs
Allow DBS collection cards to dry completely at room temperature before storing or shipping them. Once fully dry, place each card into a sample bag with desiccant, and do not remove the desiccant from the bag. Multiple sample bags may be bundled together in a single Ziploc bag.
Once these steps are complete, your samples are ready for storage or shipment.
DBS samples ship cold with ice packs, not dry ice. Use a styrofoam shipping container with an outer cardboard box, and include ice packs to help maintain sample integrity during transit.
On all shipping documentation, list the contents as “Non-Infectious Exempt Human Specimens.” Clearly label the external shipping container as “Exempt Human Specimens.” No additional shipping markings are required.
Before shipping, complete the Testing Order Form (Step 2) and attach the Excel sample roster. Print a copy of the completed Testing Order Form, place it in a Ziploc bag, and insert the bag inside the styrofoam portion of the bioshipper before closing the lid.
Ship samples only on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday using FedEx Priority Overnight delivery, so they don’t sit in transit over the weekend.
Your shipping address will be included in the confirmation email sent to you once your study is set up. If you can’t find it, contact your project coordinator or reach out through the Ask an Expert link below.