Cutting Edge Practices

Want to go above-and-beyond standard cold storage best practices? Incorporate some of these ideas into your lab’s daily routine and watch the points add up… and the time you spend rooting around for samples go down.

Earn points per freezer for each of the following actions:

Sharing

Sharing equipment is an often overlooked but extremely effective way of reducing the operating costs of a lab.

To qualify, shared space must be significant enough either to prevent the need to purchase additional equipment, or to allow for the retirement of an existing unit.

Your lab will earn points for every lab you allow to share your freezer space.

Barcodes

Barcodes are an excellent way to keep track of samples.

• Check out this blog for good information about how to set up a barcode system and a list of companies that sell this type of system

Points will be awarded for every refrigeration unit that contains barcoded samples.

Trying Room Temperature Sample Storage (RTSS)

RTSS is becoming more common for DNA, RNA and plasmids.  It is particularly useful for shipping, eliminating the need for dry ice, or in field collection, eliminating the need for refrigeration.

• Need more information? This is a good overview of this technology with helpful links to resources and studies about it.

Credit will be given for trying RTSS per well plate or set of 25 tubes.

Trying Room Temperature Sample Storage (RTSS) for Reagents

Not only is RTSS becoming popular for samples, it’s also being used for reagents and diagnostic kits.

Credit will be given for using any reagents or diagnostic kits that can be stored at room temperature.