Thanksgiving Specimen Shipping Guidelines and Schedule


Operational Update

Due to the Thanksgiving holiday (recognized on Thursday, Nov. 28), Mayo Clinic Laboratories' specimen pickup and delivery schedules will be altered. To ensure specimen stability and prevent delays, follow the guidelines outlined below for domestic clients and international clients.

Guidelines for domestic clients

  • Delays are possible: Specimens shipped on Wednesday, Nov. 27, via FedEx or UPS will not arrive before Friday, Nov. 29, and may extend into Saturday, Nov. 30. We recommend holding all samples—especially refrigerated ones—at your facility from Wednesday, Nov. 27, until Friday, Nov. 29.
  • Self-shippers: If shipping via UPS or FedEx, please include frozen cool packs to keep shipments cold and use enough dry ice to accommodate the extended transit time.

Holiday shipping schedule

Tuesday, Nov. 26

  • Regular courier pickups.
  • Note: Any delays at the originating shipping location may lead to the earliest arrival at Mayo Clinic Laboratories on Friday, Nov. 29.

Wednesday, Nov. 27

  • Regular courier pickups (clients wishing to ship expect delays).
  • Note: We recommend not shipping FedEx or UPS on this day to avoid delays.

Thursday, Nov. 28 (Thanksgiving Day)

  • No pickups.

Friday, Nov. 29

  • Regular pickups.

For questions, please contact Customer Service at 800-533-1710 and ask to be forwarded to the Global Logistics specialist.

Guidelines for international clients

  • Delays are possible: Specimens shipped on Wednesday, Nov. 27, via FedEx or UPS will not arrive before Friday, Nov. 29, and may extend into Saturday, Nov. 30. We recommend holding all samples—especially refrigerated ones—at your facility from Wednesday, Nov. 27, until Friday, Nov. 29.
  • Self-shippers: If shipping via UPS or FedEx, please include frozen cool packs to keep shipments cold and use enough dry ice to accommodate the extended transit time.

Holiday shipping schedule

Tuesday, Nov. 26

  • Regular courier pickups.
  • Note: Any delays at the originating shipping location may lead to the earliest arrival at Mayo Clinic Laboratories on Friday, Nov. 29.

Wednesday, Nov. 27

  • Regular courier pickups (clients wishing to ship expect delays).
  • Note: We recommend not shipping FedEx or UPS on this day to avoid delays.

Thursday, Nov. 28 (Thanksgiving Day)

  • No pickups.

Friday, Nov. 29

  • Regular pickups.

For questions, please contact Customer Service at 800-533-1710 and ask to be forwarded to the Global Logistics specialist.

Mayo Clinic Laboratories

This post was authored by the Marketing Team at Mayo Clinic Laboratories.