What role does the cane play in IVF cryogenic storage and what should embryologists look for when selecting one?

The cane is one of the most fundamental consumable components in IVF cryogenic storage. It is the structural element that organises individual goblets, vials, or straw holders within the canister inside a liquid nitrogen dewar, providing the physical framework through which samples are identified, accessed, retrieved, and returned to storage.

In a standard IVF cryogenic storage configuration, each cane holds a column of goblets – typically 5 to 9 depending on cane design – within a canister that in turn sits inside the dewar. The cane’s flat top provides a writing surface or attachment point for a cryogenic ID tag, allowing the cane’s contents to be identified before retrieval. The colour coding system used on cane tops is a standard organisational tool in busy IVF laboratory programmes.

When selecting a cane for IVF use, embryologists and laboratory managers should evaluate several specifications. Material is the starting point. Aluminium cryogenic canes are the laboratory standard – lightweight, thermally conductive enough to cool rapidly when placed in liquid nitrogen, mechanically robust, and compatible with all standard goblet and canister formats.

Goblet compatibility is critical. Canes are designed to hold goblets of a specific diameter, typically 12mm or 13mm, and using a cane with the wrong goblet diameter results in loose fit, poor stability, and retrieval difficulty.

Canes, goblets, and sleeves provide secure, organised storage for vitrified samples within cryogenic tanks, designed for compatibility and durability to ensure easy identification, safe handling, and reliable protection of oocytes and embryos during long-term storage.

Length format – full-size or half-size – determines how many cane units fit within the canister and how much sample material each cane carries. Half-size canes are increasingly used where storage density and access granularity are priorities.

Cryolab supplies aluminium cryogenic canes in full and half-size formats for IVF laboratories globally. Browse the range or contact the Cryolab team.