Choosing the right size dry shipper is one of those decisions that looks straightforward on the surface but has several practical dimensions worth thinking through carefully. The size of a dry shipper is typically expressed in litres, which refers to the volume of the inner vessel, but the number that actually matters for most users is the sample capacity and the hold time.
For single-patient embryo or sperm transport within the UK, a 2-litre or 3-litre dry shipper is typically more than adequate. These compact units are lightweight when charged, easy to handle, and can maintain cryogenic temperatures for 24 to 48 hours, which covers virtually any domestic courier journey with a very comfortable margin. They are the go-to choice for fertility clinics arranging patient-requested transfers between HFEA-licensed facilities, for veterinary practices transporting equine or bovine semen straws between collection and insemination sites, and for laboratories sending small numbers of cell line vials to collaborating institutions.
For multi-patient transfers, higher-volume veterinary semen shipments, or any international transport where the total journey time including potential delays could approach or exceed 24 hours, a larger 5-litre or 10-litre dry shipper offers a substantially longer hold time and greater internal sample capacity. A 10-litre unit from a quality manufacturer can maintain temperatures below minus 150 degrees Celsius for 72 hours or more in static conditions, providing reassurance for long-haul air freight or complex multi-leg international shipments.
The key specifications to compare when selecting a dry shipper size include:
Static hold time: how many hours the vessel maintains cryogenic temperatures after charging in undisturbed conditions. Always factor in a buffer above your expected maximum journey time.
Absorbent capacity: how much liquid nitrogen the matrix can hold, which directly determines the hold time.
Internal configuration: whether the vessel can accommodate the specific goblet, cane, or straw configuration you use for your samples.
Empty and charged weight: important for air freight weight limits and for manual handling safety.
For IVF clinics, the 2-litre dry shipper is the most commonly used size for routine embryo transport between UK clinics. For veterinary reproduction centres handling regular large-animal semen shipments, the 5-litre or 10-litre units are more practical.
Cryolab stocks the complete CryoStork range of dry shippers from 2 litres to 10 litres, all available for next day delivery across the UK. Find the right size for your application in the CryoStork dry shipper range at Cryolab.
