Frequently asked questions
Common Questions About IVF Sample Transport
What does Life on Ice do?
We are a specialist hand-carry courier service for frozen IVF samples. We transport human eggs, sperm, and embryos between fertility clinics — both within the UK and internationally. Every transport is carried out personally by a trained courier. We also offer transport for research, including animal samples in separate shippers.
How does hand-carry transport work?
A dedicated courier collects your samples from the sending clinic in a validated cryoshipper — an insulated vessel cooled to -196°C. The courier carries the shipper by hand to the receiving clinic, keeping it upright and monitored throughout. Your samples are never left unattended or handed off to a third party.
What is a cryoshipper?
A cryoshipper is a specialised insulated vessel designed for transporting frozen biological samples. It uses liquid nitrogen absorbed into the walls to maintain a temperature of -196°C for weeks at a time. Unlike a standard dewar, there is no free liquid nitrogen inside, which makes it safe for transport and compliant with airline regulations. We fit every shipper with a continuous temperature monitoring probe.
We also 'validate' our shippers - that basically means we test them when we first get them, and on a regular basis to make sure they are performing correctly, and continue to hold their temperature. This, combined with our continuous temperature monitoring during transports, provides us with a very high level of confidence in our kit.
Can you transport eggs, sperm, and embryos?
Yes. We transport all types of frozen reproductive material — embryos at any stage, frozen eggs (oocytes), and frozen sperm samples. The same hand-carry process and safety standards apply regardless of sample type - we also offer an animal and research material shipping service, and these samples are transported in a separate series of shippers.
Do you transport internationally?
Yes. We carry samples to and from countries worldwide, and we've done quite a few.
How do I arrange a transport?
Contact Bob with the details of your sending and receiving clinics, what you need transported, and any date preferences. We'll send you a personalised quote, then handle the clinic liaison, paperwork, and scheduling from there.
Do I need to contact my clinics myself?
We liaise directly with both clinics as part of our service. We arrange collection and delivery dates, coordinate paperwork, and make sure both labs are prepared. You don't need to act as a go-between - you will need to let them know that you have chosen us as a provider, and there will be some paperwork - but we'll handle all the details.
What is a Third Party Agreement (TPA)?
A TPA is a formal agreement between a fertility clinic and a courier service, required before any transport can take place. We hold TPAs with 91 UK clinics, so this step is usually already done. If your clinic doesn't have one with us yet, we'll arrange it.
How much does transport cost?
Costs depend on the route, distance, and any specific requirements. Contact us for a personalised quote. We're competitively priced, and our patients regularly describe our fees as fair and good value.
How long can samples stay frozen during transport?
Our cryoshippers are validated to maintain temperature for at least two weeks. UK transports are typically completed within a day; international journeys are well within the shipper's capacity.
Will I receive updates during the transport?
Yes. We offer real-time delivery updates over WhatsApp so you always know where your samples are and how things are going.
Is my data safe?
Yes. We have a dedicated Data Protection Officer (and privacy enthusiast) and handle all personal information in compliance with UK GDPR. Our privacy policy is available on our documents page.
Are you regulated?
At present no regulations exist for solely IVF couriers like us, but HFEA requirements for clinics require them to validate that we meet certain standards, like having validated shippers and a quality management system. We have TPAs with the vast majority of clinics in the UK - which demonstrates that we meet their standards.
Our Technical Director, Ellen Drew, is a registered clinical embryologist with 33 years of experience. We follow all HFEA guidelines for the transport of reproductive material, and we operate a quality management system to ensure consistent, safe service.
What if something goes wrong during transport?
Because your samples are hand-carried by a dedicated courier, any issue can be addressed immediately. Our couriers are trained to handle unexpected situations, and our temperature monitoring ensures we know the condition of the shipper at all times. We provide cover for any incidents that do arise.
Have a question not covered here? Contact Bob.