Egg Shipping Between Clinics
Transport for frozen eggs and donor oocytes, from an egg bank or clinic to the lab that will receive them. A courier travels with the shipper the whole way.
How Every Shipment Runs
How do I ship eggs between clinics?
The sending clinic releases the eggs, and a courier collects them in a sealed dry vapour shipper and signs a chain of custody form. The courier stays with the shipper until the receiving lab checks the seal and signs. The receiving clinic must be ready to accept the eggs before the courier leaves.
Vitrified oocytes travel in the same kind of dry vapour shipper as embryos, and eggs and embryos share the same process. See our page on embryo shipping for the full walk-through.
The steps
- The owner asks the sending clinic or egg bank to release the eggs and confirms the receiving clinic is ready to accept them.
- The two labs and GuardianCryo agree a pickup time and a delivery time.
- The courier arrives with the dry vapour shipper. The sending lab loads the eggs, the courier checks the labels against the form and seals the shipper, and both sign the chain of custody form.
- The courier carries the shipper to the receiving clinic, with the do-not-X-ray letter and a temperature log.
- The receiving lab checks the seal number and signs. We send both clinics the signed form and the log.
What the clinics prepare
- The sending clinic prepares the release, the consents and the labelled straws or devices.
- The receiving clinic confirms it can accept the material and any import requirements.
- Both clinics name a contact who will be there at the agreed time.
We carry a do-not-X-ray letter on every trip. Read about the no X-ray protocol.
When You Need Egg Transport
Donor Egg Bank Transfers
Moving frozen donor eggs from an egg bank to your fertility clinic.
Egg Freezing Relocations
Moving your frozen eggs when changing fertility clinics, relocating cities, or consolidating storage.
International IVF with Donor Eggs
Transporting donor eggs for IVF treatment abroad, on routes such as US to Mexico or Spain to US.
Shared Donor Cycles
When donor eggs are split between recipients at different clinics, we plan the transport to each location.
How We Handle Frozen Eggs
Vitrification Temperature Maintained
Frozen eggs are stored at about minus 190 degrees C. Our dry vapour shipper holds that temperature for longer than the trip takes.
Hand-Carry Protocol
A courier carries the shipper with them for the whole trip. It does not go in cargo, and we ask for hand inspection instead of X-ray.
Donor Egg Coordination
We coordinate pickup and delivery with the egg bank or clinic that holds the eggs and the lab that is receiving them.
International Egg Bank Transfers
We can move frozen eggs from an egg bank abroad to your clinic. The receiving clinic confirms the import requirements and we coordinate with them.
Chain of Custody
A chain of custody form is signed and the shipper sealed at pickup. The seal number is checked and both parties sign at delivery.
Time-Sensitive Handling
We plan pickup and delivery times with both labs in advance, so the shipper is not left waiting.
Egg Routes We Can Quote
Tell us your route and we will quote it. Some examples:
Get your exact price in 24 hours
Egg Shipping Questions
How are frozen eggs shipped safely?
Vitrified eggs travel in the same kind of dry vapour shipper as embryos. The nitrogen is absorbed inside the unit, so there is no loose liquid, and the eggs stay at about minus 190 degrees C. A courier carries it for the whole trip and we keep a temperature log.
Can you ship donor eggs internationally?
Yes, we can move donor eggs between countries. The receiving clinic confirms the import requirements for its country and we coordinate with it. Tell us the route and we will quote it.
How much does egg shipping cost?
We build each quote for the route, and your exact price arrives within 24 hours. It depends on distance, the number of legs, whether a border is crossed, how much notice we have and courier time. Current ranges by route: Texas, same-day drive (under about 4 hours each way): $850 to $1,000; Texas, long drive (4 to 5 hours): $1,000 to $1,200; Texas, fly-in: $1,400 to $1,800; US domestic, fly-in: $1,900 to $2,800; US to Canada: $3,000 to $3,800; Canada to US: $3,000 to $3,800; US to Mexico: $3,200 to $4,000; US to the UK or Europe: From $4,500; US to Nigeria and West Africa: $4,900 to $5,500; Other international lanes: From $4,500. Use the quote page to get your exact price.
Does shipping affect frozen eggs?
When handled correctly, frozen eggs tolerate transport. They stay in nitrogen vapour at about minus 190 degrees C, the courier checks the temperature log, and the shipper is kept out of X-ray machines. Your clinic can tell you more about the condition of your own eggs.
