Standard permanent markers – even good-quality laboratory ones – are not designed for cryogenic temperatures. The inks contain solvents that fail at -195.8°C, causing the writing to crack, smear or fade over time in storage. In an IVF laboratory, a label that fails is not an inconvenience. It is a traceability failure with direct HFEA compliance implications.
Three Mechanisms of Label Failure in Cryogenic Storage
Ink freezing and becoming brittle. Some ink formulations crack or flake off the surface of the straw or tube at liquid nitrogen temperatures. Once cracked, the label is unreadable.
Thermal cycling degradation. Each time a sample is retrieved and returned to storage, it cycles through ambient temperature and back to -195.8°C. Repeated expansion and contraction detaches ink from the label surface over time.
Direct chemical degradation. Liquid nitrogen exposure can degrade some ink formulations directly. Labels that appear intact short-term can fail after months in storage.
What UK Labs Should Use
Markers and labels specified for cryogenic use are formulated to remain adhesive and readable through thermal cycling from room temperature to -195.8°C and back. The Cryolab cryogenic marker range uses ink formulations tested specifically for cryogenic performance.
If your lab is experiencing label failures in storage, the first question to ask is whether the markers being used are genuinely rated for cryogenic use – or whether someone simply ordered the most convenient permanent marker available.
For secondary labelling on visotubes and cryocanes, colour coding provides a visual identification layer that does not depend on ink adhesion at all. For product recommendations, ask CryoGPT or contact the Cryolab team.
