CUTTING-EDGE PRACTICES
Want to go above-and-beyond standard cold storage best practices? Incorporate some of these ideas into your lab's daily routine and watch the points add up... and the time you spend rooting around for samples go down.
Sharing
Sharing equipment is an oft-overlooked but extremely effective way of reducing the operating costs of a lab. If you are sharing space in a refrigerator or freezer with another lab you've likely not only saved some money, but you're also going to earn some points in this challenge.
In order to qualify, shared space must be significant enough either to prevent the need to purchase additional equipment, or to allow for the retirement of an existing unit.
Sharing equipment is an oft-overlooked but extremely effective way of reducing the operating costs of a lab. If you are sharing space in a refrigerator or freezer with another lab you've likely not only saved some money, but you're also going to earn some points in this challenge.
In order to qualify, shared space must be significant enough either to prevent the need to purchase additional equipment, or to allow for the retirement of an existing unit.
Barcodes
Barcodes are an excellent way to keep track of samples.
Any refrigeration units that contain barcoded samples should be accounted for in this section.
Barcodes are an excellent way to keep track of samples.
Any refrigeration units that contain barcoded samples should be accounted for in this section.
Trying Room Temperature Sample Storage (RTSS)
RTSS is becoming more common for DNA, RNA and plasmids. It is particularly useful for shipping, eliminating the need for dry ice, or in field collection, eliminating the need for refrigeration.
Credit will be given for trying RTSS per well plate or set of 25 tubes.
RTSS is becoming more common for DNA, RNA and plasmids. It is particularly useful for shipping, eliminating the need for dry ice, or in field collection, eliminating the need for refrigeration.
Credit will be given for trying RTSS per well plate or set of 25 tubes.
Trying Room Temperature Sample Storage (RTSS) for Reagents
Not only is RTSS becoming popular for samples, it's also being used for reagents and diagnostic kits.
Credit will be given for using any reagents or diagnostic kits that can be stored at room temperture.
Not only is RTSS becoming popular for samples, it's also being used for reagents and diagnostic kits.
Credit will be given for using any reagents or diagnostic kits that can be stored at room temperture.
Adopting Room Temperature Sample Storage (RTSS)
If your lab has fully adopted RTSS for your samples, congratulations! Let everyone know how much space you've saved in your freezers by filling in the score sheet.
Credit will be given per well plate, set of 25 tubes, or number of 2" boxes.
If your lab has fully adopted RTSS for your samples, congratulations! Let everyone know how much space you've saved in your freezers by filling in the score sheet.
Credit will be given per well plate, set of 25 tubes, or number of 2" boxes.
