Cell Bank

The Cell Bank room contains two liquid nitrogen (LN2) freezers and a controlled rate freezer that are used for preparing and storing seed cultures of mammalian cells, bacterial cells, and viral vectors. Entrance to the Cell Bank requires passing through three levels of the WCBF security system.

The LN2 freezers are S-3000B LN2 Storage Freezers (Custom BioGenic Systems, Shelby Township, MI), which are each capable of storing 17,000 vials in LN2 vapor phase. The temperature within the freezer storage chamber has been mapped and validated to be capable of maintaining a temperature of < -130 degrees C throughout the storage chamber. Mammalian cells are stored in a dedicated LN2 freezer and bacteria and virus samples are stored in a separate LN2 freezer. A thermocouple that is located in the warmest spot of the storage chamber is connected to the Equipment Monitoring System. The output from the thermocouple is continuously monitored and recorded by the system to provide continuous temperature records and alarms in the event of high temperature within the storage chamber. Electrical supply to the cryogenic freezers is supplied by a circuit that is backed-up by the Waisman Center emergency generator system. A controlled rate freezer (Model 2100 IFB, Custom BioGenic Systems) is also available for freezing cells under well-defined time-temperature profiles.

Liquid nitrogen is supplied to the liquid nitrogen freezers by tanks that are located in a secured closet. The LN2 is delivered to the freezers via a vacuum-jacketed piping system (Chart Industries, Burnsville, MN) that provides superior insulation for rapid cool-down of lines and minimal loss of liquid nitrogen. Two 180 L LN2 supply tanks are connected to a Cryo-Switch auto-switching manifold (Durable Metal Products, El Paso, TX). The Cryo-Switch switches between LN2 supply tanks and alerts personnel to replace the empty tank via the WCBF Equipment Monitoring System.

• Two (2) vapor phase, liquid nitrogen freezers for storage of cell banks
• Continuous monitoring of freezers by Rees Equipment Monitoring System
• Controlled rate freezer