White paper | The ideal cold storage solution based on the type of sample you are storing | 1

THE IDEAL COLD STORAGE SOLUTION BASED ON THE TYPE OF SAMPLE YOU ARE STORING

Whitepaper for July 2020 | ARCTIKO_

The type of cold storage equipment you will require in your lab highly depend on the type of sample you are going to be storing.

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⊲ If working with a larger number of samples in your laboratory, it is recommended to use individual sample rack systems.

The racks will fit fiberboard or polypropylene boxes which accommodate cell dividers, each with their own numerical code for easy sample identification.

Working with a sample rack and box system will create a good overview of your freezer and give you easy and practical access to your samples.

Every time the door is opened on your freezer, you put stress on the freezer as hot air goes into the freezer and the cold air goes out. Therefore, you should get in and out as quick as possible, a sample rack system will help you with this process.

STORAGE SYSTEMS FOR A BETTER OVERVIEW OF YOUR SAMPLES

The type of cold storage equipment you will require in your lab highly depend on the type of sample you are going to be storing.

Below is a list of different types of samples and what cold storage equipment would be the optimal storage solution.

⊲ Enzymes and Biochemical reagents

(General purpose freezers with a range of -20°C to -30°C)

⊲ Biological samples, vaccines, and blood products

(Low temperature freezers with a range of -30°C to -45°C)

⊲ Drugs, viruses, bacteria, cell preparations, tissue samples and long-term

storage (Ultra low temperature freezers with a range of -40°C to -86°C)

Knowing the sample type and application will help determining the cold storageequipment you will need in your lab.

⊲ THE IDEAL COLD STORAGE SOLUTION BASED ON THE TYPE OF SAMPLE YOU ARE STORING

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1. Quarterly, de-ice door gaskets and check gaskets for punctures, tears, or leaks. Broken door gaskets allow cold air (and energy) to escape the freezer and warm air to enter.

2. Semi-annual, if your freezer has a filter it should be removed and cleaned. Some manufactures today offer ULT freezer which do not have a filter, which will eliminate this procedure.

3. Annual, do a complete defrost on your freezer.

a. Remove samples from your freezer and place them in another freezer.

b. Turn off the freezer which needs to be defrosted and leave the doors open for 24 hours. (a tip is to put down cloths to absorb the water)

c. Wipe out the freezer from excess water and if there are any odor, wash the interior with a cleaning agent recommended by the manufacturer.

d. Close doors and restart the freezer, once the freezer reaches the set temperature you can refill it with samples.

⊲ Keeping a good maintenance schedule for all your freezers will help you save your samples, extend the life of your freezers and lower your energy costs.

⊲ To save on the energy consumption of your ULT freezer it is very important that maintenance are done occasionally, there are no strict guidelines on how often this should be done as it depends on allot of different variables, which are different from each lab.

However, a good rule of thumb is to follow the below guidelines.

⊲ MAINTENANCE AND WHY IT IS IMPORTANT

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1. Every time you open the freezer door you put stress on the freezer as cold and hot air are circulated and the compressor needs to work to get the freezer down to set temperature. Therefore, you should get in and out as quick as possible. Earlier, we mentioned that it would be a good idea to work with a sample rack system to help you get in and out of your freezer.

2. Freezers needs space around them so they can dissipate heat, therefore it’s very important that the guidelines from the manufacturer are followed when you install your ULT freezer. If the freezer is not able to breathe and dissipate heat, it can overheat the compressor and make them work hard and increase the energy consumption.

3. Keep your freezer defrosted, which was also mentioned in the section above.

4. Keep your ULT freezer on its own line of voltage and make sure it is a steady line of voltage as voltage fluctuations can put unnecessary pressure on the compressor and make it work harder

5. Consider changing your set point to -70°C instead of -80°C. this might be most energy efficient option of them all as changing the setpoint to -70°C can reduce the energy consumption by 30-40% and prolong the life of your ULT freezer. Most samples such as Nucleic acids, proteins, bacteria, and viruses are generally safe stored at -70°C.

⊲ There are several things you could keep in mind when working with your ULT freezer, which will help you improve the energy efficiency of your ULT freezer:

⊲ WAYS TO IMPROVE THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF YOUR ULT FREEZER

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■ Double security for samples

■ No stress and problems involved

■ No costly downtime situations

■ Faster recovery after openings

■ No need for backup freezer

■ Longer lifespan

■ Fast pull down time

■ Direct cooling on each shelf

■ Great temperature uniformity

⊲ Do not risk the safety of your samples due to the potential of a breakdown of your freezer. With today’s TRUE DUAL technology for ULT freezers, you avoid problems and headaches caused by an unexpected breakdown on your ULT freezer.

You should use the time to focus on what is most important: Your valuable samples - not worrying about the laboratory equipment. Do not ignore the huge risk of losing many years of valuable research because of poor laboratory equipment.

The TRUE DUALTM technology differs significantly from the conventional cascade refrigeration system in terms of fundamental design and operation.

The TRUE DUALTM technology ULT freezers will reduce the frequency of costly downtime situations, so that you can focus on the most important: your research.

The TRUE DUALTM technology consists of two independent cooling cycles. In the unlikely event of an unexpected failure or breakdown on one of the cycles, the other system will serve as backup, guaranteeing that your samples will be protected and kept at least at -70°C.

?⊲ WHAT IS YOUR BACK-UP PLAN IF YOUR FREEZER FAILS

It is important to invest in the correct quality of laboratory equipment that meets the established regulatory standards.

ARCTIKO A/S | Oddesundvej 39 | 6715 Esbjerg N | Denmark+45 70 20 03 28 | www.ARCTIKO.com | info@ARCTIKO.com

We reserve the right to change specifications without notice. Subject to confirmation, availability and errors. Check our website for further technical information.

07/

2020

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For availability on Benchtop / Undercounter ULT freezers go to following sites:

arctiko.com | https://www.arctiko.com/products/90-c-ultra-low-temperature-freezers

ULU

F P820

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F P5

00

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F P610

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F P

390

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