A medical gas cylinder system (10) is provided that includes a gas cylinder (12), a gas dispensing mechanism for dispensing the medical gas from the gas cylinder, a flow control valve operatively disposed in the dispensing mechanism and adapted to initiate a flow of medical gas from the gas cylinder upon actuation, and a cylinder contents gauge adapted to indicate the status of medical gas within the gas cylinder. The flow control valve (20) includes a setting to ensure the gas contents of cylinder are evacuated prior to return shipment. The disclosed system further includes a shipping container (80) having a configuration adapted to hold the gas cylinder and dispensing mechanism and having one or more transparent surfaces or windows (86) such that the cylinder contents gauge or other cylinder status indication is visible when the gas cylinder and dispensing mechanism are placed in the container. The gas cylinder and container are suitable for shipment via commercial carrier.
