Cryogenic tubes: Biological Material Storage
Cryogenic tubes are used for storing bacteriological cultures, blood components, sera, cells and other liquid materials at low temperature. The PAA cryogenic tubes are made from clear and high grade polypropylene. With the use of similar materials for both lid and vial together with the absence of an O-ring, it helps in the reduction of risk of explosion and breakage during thawing. The round bottom part of the tube allows the complete transfer of cell material to a flask or a dish where cell culture will occur. The starfoot shape of the base of the tube allows easy handling if the tubes are placed in a working rack. Cryotubes are created very suitable in storing different materials that will be place inside a refrigerator or in a place that has temperatures lower than -196°C.
The cap cryogenic tubes have a long skirt that is used for single hand aseptic technique. It is a super fast and quick thread design which enables removal and tightening to have a minimum of 1-1/4 turn. It is also a thread design which will not gives contribution to a possible contamination. Another feature that is important for the tube to have is the lip that is found inside the cap. It is especially designed to provide a leakproof seal that works even at a very low temperature.
The cryogenic tubes are also made available together with a seal that is made in the absence of silicone. It is fitted and used at the cap base to make sure that the tube has a positive seal. The tubes and closures are both made and created using a polypropylene. They also have the similar coefficient of expansion of the ingredient. Thus, it enhances the tubes and closures leak-proof qualities when exposed and stored at changing temperatures. These tubes are also made and created with a white are for marking and for sample identification. It also has side graduations. Tubes can also become color coded through the use of a colored cap insert. All tubes undergo a process of sterilization under gamma-irradiation that makes the tubes compatible to almost all storage systems. In addition, all tubes are packaged inside a unique reseal able, resistant to tamper and safety-lock bags that can store and can be occupied by as much as 100 tubes.
A good cryogenic tube that is best for biological material storage must contain external threads and lip seal that is suitable to use at temperatures that is lower than -120°C. It should also contain another external thread and silicone washer seal that are best used at temperatures lower than -190°C. Features like internal threads and additional silicone washer seal that can be used at temperatures lower than -190°C are important parts of the tube that makes it very suitable for storing biological materials.
With all the features and characteristics a good tube, storing of different biological material will be successful. Since storage process is successful, the organisms inside can be used to other laboratory procedures once they are remove from the tubes. Therefore, the storage process is the most significant first step among all laboratory procedures. It will identify if the next procedures will succeed or not.