Cryobank

The cryobank core facility provides:

• Control and administration of the entire cryobank system
• Regular checks, maintenance, and supplies of liquid nitrogen
• Training of employees handling liquid nitrogen
• Access to the cryobank via chips and allocation of authorizations for handling DW canisters or manipulations with liquid nitrogen at the refilling (“tapping”) sites
• Dry ice supplies
   

The cryobank is situated on the ground floor of the main building of the BIOCEV Centre.  The cryobank is only accessible via an electronic chip. All users handling the cryobank equipment (including the tapping sites) must undergo training for work with liquid nitrogen. Only after this training they will be given a chip with pre-programmed rights. Users can come to these spaces at any time (regardless of working hours of the cryobank facility) and deposit/retrieve vials by themselves. The electronic chip has been pre-programmed individually, so that each user is permitted handling with and access to the appropriate Dewar canisters and tapping sites only.

The “tapping site” – where users shall be able to tap liquid nitrogen into containers designated for this liquid, again via an electronic chip. In total, three tapping sites shall be available – one directly in the cryopreservation room – R1.003 – designated for refilling non-pressure containers, another one in R1.002 – adjacent to the main cryopreservation space – designated for refilling pressure containers, and the remaining one in room M1.017, again on the ground floor of the main building – also for refilling pressure containers.

One more tapping site is located in the cryobank of building SO 002 and is intended for refilling non-pressure containers.

Work in both cryobanks of the BIOCEV Centre is regulated by the Rules for Operation.