Re: [DIYbio] Re: Needing some things

For *lab strain* E.coli, my understanding is that they're generally
unregulated unless they're GMO.

At least in Ireland for example, there is a legal framework regulating
Class 2+ bacteria for health and safety reasons. E.coli is in the list,
but with a footnote stating that domesticated lab strains are exempt.

To send E.coli in the post, send a "stab": create a little test tube of
slanted agar, then stab an inoculating loop of E.coli into the agar. You
can cap the tube (E.coli are facultative anaerobes, they won't need air)
and send it in a padded envelope. For added surety, alcohol-spray a
thick plastic ziploc bag, let it dry, put the tube in that before
mailing though. That way, if the tube breaks, the fragments will
possibly still be in a sanitised environment for recovery on the other end.

Label the letter "Non-hazardous biological sample": it's good manners
and could avoid trouble if customs at either end take exception to test
tubes of unidentified bacteria. Ideally, include a little letter slip in
the envelope describing the strain in case customs decide it's worth
opening. I've never heard of one being opened though; labelling it is
pretty "transparent". Postal service workers in most countries haven't
caught the "OMG BIOTERRORISTS" bug yet, it seems. :)

On 31/07/12 16:54, Andreas Sturm wrote:
> Maybe I can try to send you a lab strain from our university....
>
> But I fear, without them frozen they won't survive until the letter'd have
> arrived... Anyway, is it legal to send (genetically unmodified) Colis via
> mail??
>

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