Laboratories often have to collect, store and transport biological samples for testing, so what are the requirements for their storage and transportation?
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- Storage of biological samples
- -196℃, -150℃ cryogenic freezing
Liquid nitrogen (-196°C) is recognized as the most reliable method of sample preservation. However, because the sample cannot be completely immersed in liquid nitrogen, free fragments may bring potential risks of cross-contamination, so the gas phase liquid nitrogen (-150°C) was developed. The best preservation method is to place the sample above liquid nitrogen and surrounded by gas phase liquid nitrogen, which can well prevent the risk of cross-contamination. It can also be refrigerated by an electric refrigerator to reach a low temperature of -150°C, thus meeting the long-term storage needs of samples. Since -137°C is the glass transition temperature of water, below this temperature all biochemical reactions in cells that can cause content degradation are inactive, thus meeting long-term storage requirements.
- -80℃
-80°C cryopreservation is a method of preserving frozen nucleic acid samples: in biological sample banks that do not have liquid nitrogen storage conditions, you can also consider using -80°C deep-freezing refrigerators to preserve samples. Studies have shown that at -80°C, DNA production value, integrity and RNA production value can be maintained for up to 7 years without significant changes, and RNA integrity decreases after 5 years of cryopreservation. Therefore, it is recommended to aliquot at the appropriate time of storage, add RNA-specific stabilizer and then freeze at -80°C, which is more conducive to the preservation of RNA.
Regarding the preservation of proteins, deep cryogenic freezing is now the main method, which can well maintain its stability. Short-term storage can also be kept in a low-temperature refrigerator at -20°C.
- Sample transportation conditions
- Whole blood/plasma/serum/dried blood tablets
DNA: It can be transported to the laboratory at room temperature within 24 hours, transported to the laboratory within 72 hours and placed at 2-8°C, and transportation of 72 hours and longer needs to be carried out at -20°C.
RNA: Separate plasma within 4 hours, and can be transported to the laboratory within 5 days and stored at 2-8°C. When transported for 5 days or longer, it must be kept at -20°C.
Dried blood tablets can be shipped at room temperature.
- Alveolar lavage fluid
It can be transported to the laboratory at room temperature within 24 hours, and must be refrigerated at 2-8°C within 72 hours. For shipments of 72 hours and longer, -70°C or more stringent conditions must be used.
- Bone marrow
Bone marrow specimens should be transported at 2-8°C, and if used for RNA analysis, RNA stabilizers should be added.
- Cheek cells
Nucleic acids can be stable for 1 week at room temperature and can be transported at room temperature. To detect RNA, they need to be placed in an RNA stabilizer.
- Lymphocytes
Lymphocytes isolated from blood need to be refrigerated and transported at 2-8°C. If they cannot be extracted in time, they should be stored below -70°C.
- Cerebrospinal fluid
DNA virus detection: needs to be transported at 2-8 degrees Celsius and should be stored at -20 degrees Celsius or -70 degrees Celsius or lower.
RNA: Immediately cool down on ice and transport to the laboratory on dry ice.
- Extract
DNA virus detection: needs to be transported at 2-8℃ and should be stored at -20℃ or -70℃ or lower.
RNA: Immediately place on ice to cool down or place in RNA stabilizer for transportation.
8.Organization
DNA: Fresh tissue should be placed immediately at -20°C and kept on ice for storage.
RNA: Fresh tissue is quickly frozen in liquid nitrogen immediately after collection for transportation and storage.
Paraffin embedding can be transported and stored at room temperature.
- Sputum
It can be transported to the laboratory at room temperature within 30 minutes, otherwise it should be transported at 4-8°C.
10.Feces
It can be collected with the help of stool collection box and stool collection tube, and a sample the size of a soybean grain is enough. Carry out nucleic acid extraction or cryopreservation at -80°C within 4 hours.
- Cervical and urethral swabs
Ship in the shipping medium recommended by the test reagent manufacturer.
- Plant samples
Collect fresh samples with normal body shape and put them into sample bags and mark them; if there is soil in the samples, they generally need to be washed, then dried and nucleic acid extracted as soon as possible; transported and stored at room temperature or -20°C.
It should be noted here that samples should be stored under stable conditions and repeated freezing and thawing should be avoided.
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