Purchasing cold storage laboratory equipment for transporting and storing cell and gene therapies is crucial to ensure the integrity and viability of these sensitive materials. Making informed decisions when purchasing laboratory equipment by carefully considering these factors and collaborating with experts who understand cold storage requirements contribute to successfully handling, transporting, and storing temperature-sensitive cell and gene therapies.
1. Temperature Requirements
Understand the specific temperature requirements of the cell and gene therapies. Therapies typically require storage below –180°C.
2. Equipment Capacity:
Determine the volume of materials you’ll need to store and transport. Choose equipment with an appropriate capacity to accommodate your needs, considering both the current trial scale and potential future expansion.
3. Quality and Reliability:
Invest in high-quality equipment from reputable manufacturers. Reliability is crucial to prevent temperature excursions and maintain the cold chain. Look for equipment with good insulation, temperature uniformity, and durability.
4. Monitoring and Alarms:
Choose equipment that includes built-in temperature monitoring systems and alarms or stand-alone equipment. These systems provide real-time monitoring and alerts in case of temperature deviations, allowing you to take immediate action to prevent damage. If you have an existing monitoring and data management system, ensure the new equipment can integrate it for centralized monitoring and data recording.
5. Validation and Calibration:
Ensure your purchased equipment is appropriately validated and calibrated to operate within specified temperature ranges and provide accurate readings.
6. Energy Efficiency:
Consider energy efficiency to reduce operational costs. Energy-efficient equipment can help maintain stable temperatures while minimizing energy consumption.
7. Space and Location:
Evaluate the available space for the equipment. Ensure that your chosen location suits the equipment’s size and ventilation requirements. Consider maintenance accessibility requirements.
8. LN2 Delivery Systems:
Therapies require cryogenic temperatures, so you’ll need a robust liquid nitrogen (LN2) delivery system. These systems are crucial for maintaining the necessary low temperatures. Consider storage capacity, LN2 consumption rates, and safety features.
9. Training and Support:
Ensure the equipment provider offers proper usage, maintenance, and troubleshooting training. A responsive customer support team can be invaluable if you encounter problems.
10. Regulatory Compliance:
Ensure the equipment meets relevant regulatory standards and guidelines based on manufacturer specifications. Proper documentation and validation reports may be required for regulatory submissions.
11. Budget:
Develop a budget considering the initial purchase cost, ongoing operational expenses, maintenance, and potential upgrades.
12. Long-Term Planning:
Think about the long-term needs. Purchasing equipment that can accommodate future growth can save you time and money.
Purchasing cold storage equipment for cell and gene therapies requires careful consideration of temperature requirements, equipment features, regulatory compliance, and long-term planning. Selecting the right equipment and implementing regularly scheduled maintenance and monitoring practices can be differentiators that contribute to your efforts’ success in managing these collections.
A reputable supplier with a proven track record of providing reliable cold storage solutions, Pacific Science, LLC has a team of experts with over 150 years of combined experience. With a deep understanding of the challenges of storing valuable biospecimen in ultra-low temperatures and personalized service, we help find the right storage solutions based on customers’ needs.
Contact a representative for safe, secure, regulatory-compliant solutions for storing, distributing, and managing material requiring controlled temperatures!
