Thank you for your interest in making a new resource available to the research community. The following information is an overview of the cost estimates and procedures for importation of lines to the ZIRC. If you are requesting funds to generate novel zebrafish lines, your funding agency may require that you include such estimates in your budget. Note that these estimates can vary based on location and courier. For specific guidelines and requirements for fish line submission please see the Submission Guidelines.

Option 1 - Shipping of Live Adult Fish (up to 50 lines)

• Total Estimate - Domestic:
• $150 for 10 fish lines (1 shipment)
• up to $750 for 50 fish lines (5 shipments total)
• Total Estimate - International:
• $1500 (World Courier) for 10 fish lines (1 shipment)
• up to $7,500 (World Courier) for 50 fish lines (5 shipments total)
• Details:
• Shipping of 50 adult lines (5 males and 5 females per line) requires at least 5 shipments (10 lines per shipment). Estimate approximately $150 per shipment for domestic shipments. For international shipments we recommend World Courier. Estimate approximately $1,500 per shipment by World Courier. In this case, we will maximize the number of fish per shipment to reduce cost.
• Typically, about 5-10% of the lines you generate will be frequently requested by the community. ZIRC will import these lines as adult fish and make them available as soon as a new generation is raised and adults have been identified.
• Note: Option 1 can be combined with option 2 or 3.

• Total Estimate - Domestic:
• $2,500 for 50 lines
• add $500 per shipment for each additional set of 50 lines
• Total Estimate - International:
• $5,500 for 50 lines
• add $2,000 per shipment for each additional set of 50 lines
• Details:
• Arrangements will be made for a ZIRC staff member to visit your lab, or someone from your lab visits ZIRC.
• We will review your current cryopreservation procedure and/or provide your staff with hands-on cryopreservation training. Such arrangements have been mandated by our Advisory Board to ensure:
  • proficiency with the current cryopreservation methods
  • quality control of pre- and post-thaw samples
  • ZIRC bio-safety policies
• Option 2 offers compelling advantages; namely, your colleagues can freeze lines at their own pace, and there is no need to have large numbers of fish synchronized to a specific age. Thus, you commit less space (but more personnel/work hours) in your fish facility, and backups can be produced for your own purposes. In addition, your lab acquires the cryopreservation technique.
• Review the current ZIRC cryopreservation protocol and storage standards here.

• Total Estimate - Domestic:
• $5,500 for 50 lines (7 days/visit)
• $7,000 for 100 lines (10 days/visit)
• $9,000 for 150 lines (13 days/visit)
• $14,000 for 200 lines (2 visits required)
• Total Estimate - International:
• $10,500 for 50 lines (7 days/visit)
• $14,000 for 100 lines (10 days/visit)
• $18,000 for 150 lines (13 days/visit)
• $28,000 for 200 lines (2 visits required)
• Details:
• Two ZIRC staff members will visit your lab, freeze on site and then the frozen sperm samples will be shipped to the ZIRC. Depending on the number of lines that need to be cryopreserved, more than 1 visit may be necessary. Currently, a 7 day visit (including travel days) is necessary to freeze 50 lines. Each visit can be extended depending on the number of lines available for freezing. In our experience, it can be difficult to have more than 100-150 lines available within the same age range of 5-10 months. However, this age guarantees a high success rate for stripping good quality sperm and therefore the process is very efficient. The size of your facility as well as the space you can devote to holding fish at a synchronized, optimal stripping age will determine how many lines we can preserve during each visit. Thus, several visits may be necessary.
• The NIH requires that the submitting lab pay for travel, food, and lodging for the entire visit.
• Shipping of the cryopreserved samples to the ZIRC will require at least 1 liquid nitrogen dewar, which the ZIRC will provide. Each dewar can hold up to 50 lines; we anticipate a maximum cost of $500 (domestic) and $2,000 (international) per shipment (included in the estimate above).
• The advantage of option 3 is that the importation process is completed relatively quickly and you do not have to learn or perfect the freezing protocol. The ZIRC is extremely proficient with the technique and we guarantee 100% recovery of all lines. The disadvantage, however, is that you need to have a large number of young males (5-10 months of age) available at the time of the cryopreservation visits. Thus, a large part of your fish facility may need to be set aside to maintain males before these visits.
• The travel and lodging costs are rough estimates, and they vary by location, season, and number of visits. Feel free to substitute our estimate with amounts that you believe are more accurate for your location.

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