A dry shipper that is not in active use is still a piece of clinical infrastructure that requires appropriate storage and periodic maintenance. How a vessel is stored between transfers directly affects its readiness for use when it is next needed and, over the longer term, the condition of its vacuum insulation and absorption matrix.
Correct storage between transfers
Between transfers, CryoStork dry shippers should be stored upright in a clean, dry environment away from sources of heat or direct sunlight. The absorption matrix inside the vessel should be allowed to fully outgas after each transfer before the vessel is stored – this means leaving the vessel uncharged with the lid in place but not sealed for a period after the liquid nitrogen has fully evaporated from the matrix. Storing a vessel with residual nitrogen in the matrix for extended periods is not recommended.
Monitoring vacuum performance
The vacuum insulation should be monitored periodically for signs of degradation. The clearest indicator of vacuum performance is hold time after charging. If a vessel that previously held temperature for a known duration begins achieving shorter hold times without any change in charging procedure or ambient conditions, the vacuum should be investigated before the vessel is used for a critical transfer.
A dry shipper that has been sitting in a store room for six months without a performance check is not a vessel in known condition. It is a vessel that needs a hold time verification before it is trusted with irreplaceable clinical samples.
Maintaining a vessel log
The three-year vacuum warranty on all CryoStork models provides assurance for manufacturing defects. Good storage practice protects against the operational wear that the warranty does not cover. For a fleet of CryoStork dry shippers used across multiple transfer routes, maintaining a simple log of each vessel’s last charging date, hold time achieved, and transfer history provides the information needed to identify any vessel whose performance is changing before it creates a clinical problem. For maintenance advice specific to your CryoStork models, contact the Cryolab team or use CryoGPT. View the full CryoStork range here.
