How To Transport Frozen Embryos, Sperm, and Egg cells to and from Singapore from Abroad: All You Need To Know
- Cryo Medical Logistics
- Aug 20, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 21, 2025
When you’ve fought hard for every cell, shipping isn’t “logistics” — it’s love, trust, and time. That’s why families and clinics choose Cryo-Medical Logistics for international hand-carry transport of embryos, oocytes (eggs), and sperm in and out of Singapore. We treat your samples like irreplaceable passengers, not parcels.
Singapore has become one of Asia’s most important centers for fertility care. Elective egg freezing is now legal (since 1 July 2023) with updated Assisted Reproduction regulations — driving more storage, cross-border treatment, and, naturally, more shipping to and from Singapore.
On the regulatory side, shipments involving human cells/tissues fall under Singapore’s health-product frameworks (e.g., CTGTP oversight) and import permitting; import permits are typically processed within about three working days when criteria are met. We handle that maze with your clinic teams so you don’t have to.
Hand-carry vs. medical cargo: what’s the difference?
Medical cargo (freight)
Consolidated airline freight.
Multiple handoffs and depot stops.
Standard security screening (often X-ray), and routings you don’t control.
Good for bulk supplies — not ideal for time-sensitive, irreplaceable cells.
Cryo-Medical Logistics hand-carry (Onboard Courier, OBC)
A trained courier personally accompanies your samples from pickup to delivery.
Direct routings with proactive rebooking if anything changes.
Request “no X-ray” screening and hand-inspection protocols wherever operationally allowed, using industry templates used for sensitive human cell shipments.
Real-time tracking, continuous temperature protection, and dedicated insurance options.
Bottom line: fewer hands, fewer risks, more control. (And yes — we’ll still complete all IATA/airline compliance steps behind the scenes.)
How we physically protect your embryos/eggs/sperm
Cryogenic “dry shipper” — not a cooler, a mobile cryobank
We use certified liquid-nitrogen (LN₂) dry shippers in which LN₂ is absorbed into a special lining (no free liquid). Inside the cavity, temperatures stay around –190 °C for the rated hold time. These are designed specifically for safe air transport.
Airline & IATA compliance — without the jargon
Dry shippers must meet FAA/TSA and IATA rules; when biological materials are shipped, packaging/marking follows UN 3373 / PI650 where applicable. We manage the labels, declarations (or exemptions), and documentation with your clinics.
At security, our couriers present “Do Not X-ray — Hand Inspect” documentation used globally for sensitive cellular therapies; while final screening decisions rest with airport security, we plan routes and checkpoints to minimize X-ray exposure risk.
Why we’re cautious about X-ray: published data on gametes and stem cells suggest potential adverse effects from repeated or certain doses of screening irradiation; the safest course is avoidance where possible.
What makes Cryo-Medical Logistics different
True hand-carry: Your courier never leaves the shipper out of sight.
No X-ray routing (best-effort): We pre-clear and request hand inspection at each leg; we also choose routes/airlines and security lanes where this is operationally feasible.
Insurance: Shipment insurance tailored to cryo-specimens (terms vary by route/value).
Live tracking: Location + custody updates at each milestone; proactive comms to both clinics.
Clinic-to-clinic chain of custody: Documented handovers, seals, photographs, and acceptance forms.
Permits & paperwork: We coordinate Singapore import permits (and export documents at origin) with your clinics and tissue banks.
Redundancy: Backup shippers, spare data loggers, and pre-booked alternate flights where needed.
Step-by-step: what your journey looks like
Coordination & paperwork
We liaise with sending/receiving clinics to confirm identifiers, legal consents, storage release letters, and Singapore permit timelines.
Shipper prep & validation
Your dry shipper is conditioned, leak-checked, and fitted with tamper seals and a calibrated temperature logger.
Pickup & escort
Our courier collects directly from the clinic/lab, clears airport security (hand inspection requested) and boards the flight with your samples.
Live updates
You and your clinics receive time-stamped custody/position updates en route.
Clinic delivery & verification
Direct handover to the receiving embryology team, with intake forms and temperature data.
Frequently asked questions
1) Is it legal to ship my embryos/eggs/sperm into or out of Singapore?
Yes — when compliant with Singapore’s health-product and import rules and the clinics’ consents. We coordinate with your clinics on CTGTP-related classifications and import permits, typically approved in about three working days once criteria are satisfied.
2) Will my samples be X-rayed at the airport?
Our standard is to request hand inspection and present medical documentation stating “Please do not X-ray.” Security has the final say, but we plan routing to avoid X-ray wherever feasible because scientific literature indicates potential risk to sensitive cells.
3) How do you keep everything frozen the whole way?
A validated LN₂ dry shipper maintains ~–196 °C internally for its rated duration; there is no free liquid nitrogen inside, so it’s safe for air travel.
4) What regulations apply to air transport?
We follow IATA Dangerous Goods requirements (e.g., PI650/UN 3373 where applicable) and airline/airport rules. Our team completes all labeling and documentation with your clinics.
5) How long does it take?
Most Singapore routes can be completed door-to-door within 24–72 hours depending on flight schedules, paperwork, and clinic hours. We plan to the shipper’s hold time and build in contingencies.
6) Do you insure the shipment?
Yes, we offer specialized shipment insurance (terms vary by jurisdiction and declared value). Ask us for route-specific options.
7) What if a flight is delayed or cancelled?
Your courier is on site to rebook immediately and we keep you and both clinics updated. We condition shippers for adequate hold time and carry contingency plans (alternate flights, backup shippers).
8) Can you ship from storage abroad back to Singapore for treatment?
Absolutely. We regularly manage inbound moves to Singapore with permit coordination and clinic-to-clinic chain of custody.
9) How do you track my shipment?
Milestone updates (pickup, security cleared, airborne, landed, customs, delivered) plus optional live device tracking and downloadable temperature logs at delivery.
10) What does “hand-carry” actually mean?A named courier physically stays with your shipper from collection to delivery — no cargo depots, no conveyor networks, no anonymous handling. This reduces risks like delays, mis-sorts, temperature excursions, and unnecessary X-ray exposure.
Contact us
Whether you’re relocating samples for treatment, consolidating storage, or returning precious embryos home, Cryo-Medical Logistics brings hand-carry focus, regulatory fluency, and family-level care to every mile.
Phone: +442081500059
WhatsApp: +447585610211
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