Choosing the Right Shipping Partner for Your Reproductive Journey
When you’re in the middle of a fertility journey, every decision can feel monumental. Choosing a care provider, deciding on a treatment plan, selecting a clinic – it’s all deeply personal. But one decision that’s critically important (and often a surprise that doesn’t get a lot of thought or attention until it’s time) is choosing a shipping partner to move your reproductive materials.
Embryos, eggs, and sperm are among the most delicate (and oftentimes irreplaceable) materials you will ever ship. They are more complex than your average shipment arriving on your front porch in a cardboard box, and they represent your hopes and dreams for your future family. The company you trust to transport them matters more than you might think.
At Cryoport Systems, we’ve helped thousands of intended parents move their reproductive materials safely and securely. Over the years, we’ve learned that the difference between a safe, seamless shipment and one that’s stressful (or worse) comes down to a handful of key factors. Here’s what to look for, and why we’re proud to be the industry leaders.
Proven Track Record and Specialized Expertise
Not all shipping companies are created equal. Some specialize in shipping consumer goods, others may specialize in electronics. Reproductive materials require highly specialized handling, packaging, and temperature control that goes far beyond what a general shipping service is set up to offer.
A qualified reproductive shipping partner should use cryogenic shipping systems specifically designed for the life sciences and for transporting live cells. They should understand the regulations and requirements involved in transporting these types of sensitive materials, both domestically and internationally, and should be prepared to coordinate with fertility clinics, storage facilities, and other involved parties to ensure a smooth transfer.
Cryoport Systems has two decades of experience in cryogenic logistics for the life sciences, with more than a million successful shipments around the world. Shipping highly sensitive materials across the globe with the industry’s most stringent compliance and quality standards is at the core of both what we do and who we are.
Documented Chain of Compliance®
You should know exactly where your materials are, where they have been, and in what conditions they’ve been maintained from the moment they are picked up to the moment they arrive at their final destination.
Two critical measures of compliance you may have heard about before are Chain of Custody (tracking who handled your materials at each point in the journey) and Chain of Condition (a record of the environmental conditions, including temperature, throughout transit). At Cryoport Systems, we take this a step further and incorporate these into our documented and proprietary Chain of Compliance® that tracks not just custody and condition, but also integrates validated equipment qualification procedures and maintains a complete history of equipment performance and location. This system ensures that all regulatory requirements are met or exceeded and that the integrity of the shipment is maintained throughout the entire journey.
Verified Cleanliness and Safety Protocols
When it comes to cryogenic shipping systems, the quality framework of your shipping provider is essential for safety and protection. The company you choose to handle your sensitive shipment should go above and beyond to ensure that every shipper is clean, safe, and fully prepared for each journey.
At Cryoport Systems, every shipping system goes through Veri-Clean®, our industry-first documented, validated cleaning process. This isn’t a one-and done step. Before every shipment, each shipper is fully requalified and revalidated to meet our rigorous standards. That means we validate the condition of the shipper, confirm that it meets our standards for cryogenic hold times, and goes through a full decontamination and sanitization process before its used for your shipment.
By requalifying every shipper, every time, and going through the Veri-Clean process before each use, we take extra precautions that go far beyond what most shipping providers do. For you, it means confidence that your reproductive materials are traveling in a system that’s not just clean but proven safe and ready for the journey.
Compliance with International Standards
Whether your shipment is traveling across town or across the globe, following recognized standards is critical to ensuring your reproductive materials arrive safely, on time, and without running into unnecessary complications along the way. Shipping human reproductive materials goes beyond temperature control, it’s critical to adhere to regulations designed to protect both the materials and everyone handling them along the way.
Cryoport Systems adheres to ISO 21973 standards, meaning we follow the internationally recognized guidelines for the safe, compliant transportation of cells, tissues, and other biological materials. These standards, originally designed for the transportation of cells for therapeutic use, are the industry’s most stringent and are designed to maintain quality, safety, and traceability at every step.
Compliance is so much more than paperwork. True compliance proactively reduces risks that could disrupt your fertility journey. By working with a shipping partner who meets or exceeds these international standards, you can be confident in the handling of your embryos, eggs, or sperm according to the strictest global requirements.
Continuous Monitoring and Communication
Fertility journeys are emotional enough without worrying about the status of your shipment. Knowing that your materials are safe during transit can provide immense peace of mind.
Cryoport Systems uses our proprietary, custom-engineered shipping systems, designed specifically for the life sciences, with integrated condition monitoring. This means that your shipment is being tracked and continuously monitored throughout its entire journey, with visibility into conditions and movement every step of the way.
If an unforeseen issue ever arises, our logistics team is ready to respond immediately. Every shipment is monitored 24/7/365 by our team of experts, ensuring your shipment maintains its integrity from pickup to final delivery.
You are able to focus on your fertility journey, trusting we’re focused on safely delivering the materials that make it possible.
A True Partner in Your Journey
The right shipping partner works with you and your fertility team every step of the way. Reproductive materials are highly sensitive, and every detail matters… from scheduling and coordination to handling and delivery.
At Cryoport Systems, we collaborate closely with clinics, storage facilities, and partners like TMRW Life Sciences, whose advanced cryostorage technology adds an extra layer of precision and security to long-term storage of reproductive materials. This partnership approach ensures your materials are managed seamlessly, giving you confidence that every step is coordinated for the best possible outcome.
When your shipping partner acts as a true extension of your fertility team, you never have to navigate the process alone. Every shipment is handled with care, expertise, and attention to detail so you can focus on what matters most: your journey to starting or growing your family.
Peace of Mind Through Every Step
At the end of the day, choosing your shipping partner isn’t about certifications, technology, or protocols… it’s about trust. You want to feel confident that the team handling your precious materials understands the emotional weight of what they’re carrying.
At Cryoport Systems, that understanding drives everything we do. Our technology is cutting-edge, our processes are rigorous, and our experience is unmatched. But we never lose sight of the bigger picture, we understand that each shipment entrusted to our care represents someone’s dream for the future.
With our combination of expertise, verified safety measures, international compliance, and transparent communication, you can focus on your fertility journey confident that your reproductive materials are in capable, caring hands. That peace of mind is at the heart of our commitment to you.
Your Journey, Our Commitment
Your reproductive materials represent your hopes, dreams, and the next chapter in your life. Choosing a shipping partner with the right expertise and commitment to excellence is an important step in protecting that future.
At Cryoport Systems, we’ve built our services around one goal: ensuring that your materials arrive safely, securely, and ready for the next step in your journey. From our Chain of Compliance and Veri-Clean processes to our ISO 21973 compliance and continuous monitoring of every shipment, every detail is designed to deliver confidence and peace of mind.
Because when it comes to starting or growing your family, nothing should be left to chance. With Cryoport Systems standing beside you, you can focus on your fertility journey, confident in the knowledge that your reproductive materials are in trusted hands every step of the way.
