Long term cost efficiency in cryopreservation

Across the medical and pharmaceutical industries, cryopreservation – the freezing of biological material using, mostly, liquid nitrogen – is widely used to preserve everything from stem cells to embryos. But whether you have an existing cryo storage facility or are creating a whole new cryogenic lab, it’s important to thoroughly evaluate the costs involved to ensure your lab is efficient and cost effective.

Every cryo lab is different

As you’d expect, no two set-ups are the same. Of course, they all need to guarantee sample security – that should always be your number one priority. But after that, there are many factors to consider in choosing the right cryogenic equipment for your particular set-up.

The importance of cryo lab location

It could be a university campus. Or a hospital facility. Or a city centre clinic. Where your lab is located can have a massive bearing on the costs involved. If you’re expanding an existing facility for example, the original location may not be suitable; similarly, if you’re building a new lab, do you need to allow room for expansion in 4 or 5 years’ time? Ideally, a cryo-room should be on the ground floor, against an external wall, to simplify ventilation, minimise losses during refilling and minimise the pipeline costs for delivering the liquid nitrogen.

Choosing the right cryogenic freezers

Rather than just stick with what you know or go for the cheapest option, it’s vital to look in-depth at what different freezers offer. For instance, buying cheap equipment might save you a little up front, but may use too much liquid nitrogen in the longer-term, giving you mounting operating costs; and opting for the same equipment you had previously might not be suitable if your lab has grown and expanded.

Ask the experts

Truth is, designing an efficient cryo-room for optimum functionality and performance to suit you and your budget takes experience and expertise. And the team here at Air Products has both in abundance through our design consultation service.

Whether you’re looking at a new cryo-room or expanding an existing facility, the process starts by thoroughly understanding what you need, what restrictions there are, and what budget you have.

We will make sure your lab is well-organised for efficiency and peak performance, considering storage capacity, pipework, sample security and long-term running costs. We will also take an overview of what you need now, and what you might need in 1-3 years’ time. And the final design and specification includes assessing which equipment is best for your specific needs, designing intricate pipework, and incorporating monitoring and control systems.

In summary

If you’re unsure of where to begin when designing a cryopreservation facility, whether from scratch or an existing set-up, the experts here at Air Products are the people to talk to. We can help make you aware of all the costs involved, and make sure you have the right solution for your budget, both now and in the future. We can provide you with a cryopreservation solution that’s not only efficient and cost-effective, but sustainable and easy to work in.

See how we can help you rethink your cryogenic storage here.