Cryo storage – the preservation of materials at cryogenic temperatures using liquid nitrogen or other cryogenic media – is a foundational technology across a surprisingly broad range of industries. Despite the differences in what each sector stores and why, the operational requirements of a reliable cryo storage programme share common elements across all of them.
The IVF and fertility sector is one of the most demanding cryo storage environments. Embryos, oocytes, and sperm must be maintained at -196°C indefinitely, with complete traceability, regulatory compliance, and documented audit trails for every sample.
Biobanking is the fastest-growing segment of the cryo storage market. The International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories reports approximately 800 biobanks operating worldwide, with many undertaking significant infrastructure investments to maintain cryogenic storage capabilities. Biobanks store biological samples ranging from blood and tissue to DNA and cell lines, often for research timescales measured in decades.
Pharmaceutical and biotechnology manufacturing relies on cryo storage for cell banks, biological drug intermediates, and research samples at every stage of the development pipeline. The biologics market, valued at approximately USD 312 billion in 2025, requires cold chain infrastructure at an equivalent scale.
Veterinary reproductive medicine uses cryo storage for equine, bovine, and companion animal semen and embryos, with similar technical requirements to human IVF but often at larger volumes and across more geographically dispersed facilities.
Research institutions including universities, hospital research departments, and independent research organisations maintain cryo storage programmes for stem cells, tissue samples, organoids, and a wide range of biological research material.
What these industries share is the fundamental requirement: maintain temperature below -130°C continuously, with adequate supply buffer, monitoring, and documented procedures.
Cryolab supplies cryo storage equipment to IVF clinics, biobanks, pharmaceutical research, veterinary medicine, and research institutions globally. View the storage vessel range or contact the Cryolab team.
