Secure Storage Service

CellBank Australia’s Secure Storage service is a way for research scientists to outsource the costs associated with the short- or long-term storage of a proportion of their samples off-site, as a backup to their primary storage. The service is not meant to replace the research scientist’s own liquid nitrogen or -80°C freezer storage.

The “Guidelines for the use of cell lines in biomedical research” published in the British Journal of Cancer in 2014, recommend that for security, research scientists should divide important cell lines into “more than one storage vessel, preferably on different sites.” 

Material sent to CellBank Australia for Secure Storage are kept with the repository’s own samples in three liquid nitrogen storage systems and an ultra-low temperature freezer, which are all connected to an alarm system with continuous monitoring of storage temperature. Both alarm systems and storage systems are connected to generator backup in the case of power failure. Storage is routinely below -150 degrees Celsius in the vapour phase of liquid nitrogen or below -80 degrees Celsius freezer.

Included in the service:

• Storage in the vapour phase of liquid nitrogen with storage temperatures consistently below -150 degrees Celsius
• or Storage in ultra-low temperature freezer with storage temperatures consistently below -80 degrees Celsius

• 24 hour, 7 day a week, monitoring of storage temperature through building-wide alarm systems with remote alerts

• Generator based backup power systems in the event of power failure

• Customised, barcode-driven database for tracking of ampoules with unique identification numbers.

Prices

All prices are in Australian Dollars and are exclusive of GST and additional fees associated with shipping.

Billing

We make use of an annual billing cycle (1 July to 30 June) for our Secure Storage service. The annual fee is payable on the date of your initial deposit, and calculated on a pro rata basis to 30 June. Future annual fees will be payable in advance on 1 July (Anniversary Date) each year thereafter (each a Renewal Term).

To request a quote for the secure storage of your samples, please contact us (cellbank@cmri.org.au).

Related Hyperlinks

Secure Storage Deposit – Request form?

Secure Storage Agreement

Guidelines for the Use of Cell Lines in Biomedical Research