Record: Laboratory name, strain, packing date, condition on arrival, straw dry and wet weight, and your squeeze-test verdict.
Ask two laboratories for a quote. Note species, strain, packing date, how they store it and how it will travel.
On arrival, inspect sealed packaging, identity, age under the supplier protocol and visible abnormalities. Quarantine suspect material and contact the supplier.
Weigh 1 kg of dry straw, soak it, drain it and weigh it again to learn how much water your straw takes.
Do the squeeze test after draining and write down what you felt.
Calculate spawn needed for your batch from the DMR rate for your species.
Store spawn cool and use it within a week.