What Size Cryogenic Storage Tank Do I Need for an IVF Laboratory?

The correct size of cryogenic storage tank (liquid nitrogen storage vessel or dewar) for an IVF laboratory depends on the number of samples the laboratory stores or plans to store, the sample format in use, the canister configuration of the vessel, and the liquid nitrogen hold time required between top-ups. There is no single answer applicable to all settings: a clinic performing 200 cycles per year has fundamentally different storage requirements from a clinic performing 2,000 cycles or from a sperm bank holding a large donor inventory.

How do I calculate sample capacity for a cryogenic storage vessel?

Sample capacity is determined by the number of canisters the vessel holds, the number of cryocanes each canister accommodates, and the number of goblets each cryocane carries. A typical large-format IVF storage vessel may hold 6 canisters, each with 5 full-size cryocanes, each carrying 5 goblets – giving a theoretical capacity of 150 goblets per vessel. If each goblet holds one straw, that is 150 samples per vessel. If goblets are loaded with multiple straws, capacity increases accordingly. Mapping this to your actual sample inventory and projected growth rate determines how many vessels you need.

What liquid nitrogen hold time should I require?

Hold time – the number of days a fully charged vessel maintains safe temperature without top-up – is a critical specification for laboratories where liquid nitrogen deliveries may be infrequent, where weekend cover is limited, or where a backup vessel is required. Vessels with longer hold times and lower static evaporation rates reduce the operational and safety risk from nitrogen depletion.

Should I plan for future capacity when choosing a vessel?

Yes. Expanding from a smaller vessel to a larger one mid-operation requires decanting samples, which increases handling risk and temporarily displaces material. Planning for 5 to 10 years of sample inventory growth at the point of purchase is standard practice. The additional cost of a larger vessel at the outset is significantly lower than the operational cost and risk of premature replacement.

Storage capacity planning in an IVF laboratory should always be based on the projected inventory at the end of the vessel’s service life, not the current sample count. A vessel that is nearly full within 18 months of installation was under-specified from the start.

Cryolab’s CryoNest and CryoCan liquid nitrogen storage vessel ranges cover a variety of capacities for IVF and andrology laboratories. For a capacity recommendation based on your sample inventory, contact Cryolab at cryolab.co.uk/contact-us/ or use CryoGPT for immediate guidance.