[Taxacom] Problems with Express Courier International

[Bob Mesibov]

Hi, Nicholas.

I had a possibly related experience recently *within Australia*. On 30 April I packed up some non-DNA millipede specimens in Queensland for posting to myself in Tasmania. The specimens were in glass vials from which the alcohol had been drained. I heat-sealed the vials in thick-walled polyethylene tubing. The tubing was flexible and in good condition when I did this. When the package arrived in Tasmania, I was amazed to find that the tubing had become brittle and had broken. The vials would have been loose, except that the rolled tubing had been packed tightly in bags and box packing. My chemistry isn't what it was, but I can't imagine any sort of fumigation that would have affected polyethylene, especially tightly packed. Could heavy radiation have done this? I can't find anything about radiation treatment on the Australia Post website.

Nicholas Herold wrote:

"I have recently received insect specimens sent from Australia to the United States via Express Courier International for DNA work, but no DNA was retrievable, despite the seemingly good condition of the specimens. The package was security screened, and circumstantial evidence leaves me to suspect that the samples were irradiated on their way through customs, which would of course wreak havoc on the DNA. Has anyone else had similar experiences, or can confirm the use of radiation to screen international samples?

Thank you
Nicholas Herold"
-- 
Dr Robert Mesibov
Honorary Research Associate
Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, and
School of Zoology, University of Tasmania
Home contact: PO Box 101, Penguin, Tasmania, Australia 7316
03 64371195; 61 3 64371195
Webpage: http://www.qvmag.tas.gov.au/?articleID=570